Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the tonsil: a very rare presentation

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common malignant salivary gland tumour. However, short series or individual case reports have identified this tumour in the maxilla, mandible, breast tissue and thymus. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma originates from minor salivary glands, and it is therefore surprising that it is not more commonly seen in the tonsil. To date, we believe there has been only one previously reported case in the world literature of mucoepidermoid carcinoma occurring in the tonsil 1. We present a very rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma arising from within the structure of the palatine tonsil, rather from the adjacent pharyngeal wall, together with a short review of the literature.