Myoepitheliomas are rare tumors that represent about 1% of the salivary gland tumors1. Most of them are benign, and only 10% are malignant, and the latter are called malignant myoepitheliomas or myoepithelial carcinomas1. The first case of a malignant myoepithelioma was described in 1975, since then there has been a greater incidence of these tumors reported in the parotid gland1. Its involvement of the hard palate is extremely rare, and there are only 8 cases reported in the world literature and with short term follow up1–6.

The present investigation reports a case of a patient with a malignant myoepithelioma on the hard palate, with bone destruction, successfully operated upon.

R.A., male, 38 years old, complaining of nasal obstruction for years, associated with running nose and recurrent epistaxis. During exam we noticed a palate tumor extending to the right-side nasal cavity. Computerized tomography (CT) showed a large solid mass occupying part of the right maxillary sinus, palate and nasal cavity (Fig. 1).

Figure 1.

CT scan showing a large solid mass occupying part of the right-side maxillary sinus, palate and nasal cavity.

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He was submitted to a transoral resection of the tumor, which pathology exam showed a tissue neoformation made up of ovoid cells of clear cytoplasm with round nuclei and, sometimes, spindle-shaped cells with areas of stromal hyalinization and cystic formations. Immunohistochemistry analysis was positive for 14 cytokeratin, vimentin and specific muscle actin, which result matches the description of a malignant myoepithelioma. He had two new recurrences, also treated surgically.

We made him a palate closure prosthesis as a means for functional reconstruction. He has been under follow up for nine years, without signs of recurrence.

Malignant myoepitheliomas are rare tumors made up of atypical myoepithelial cells with high mitotic activity and aggressive growth1. Such tumors may stem from the differentiation of a benign tumor, it can stem from a benign tumor or it may recur, which is the most frequent situation2,3.

The parotid gland is the most common tumor location, followed by the palate and the submandibular gland1. There is no gender predominance and the mean age is 62 years1. It is usually painless, which delays diagnosis1. Malignant myoepitheliomas are characterized by local invasion and destruction, and it rarely metastasizes, and when they do, they involve lungs, liver, bones and lymphnodes4.

Histologically, the malignant myoepithelioma is characterized by pleomorphism, occasionally with eosinophilic cytoplasm, a high mitotic rate and usually with necrosis5,6. There are many architectural patterns (solid, myxoid and reticular) and different cell types: spindle, epithelioid, plasmocytoids and clear cells5,6.

Differential diagnosis includes leiomyosarcoma, peripheral nerve sheath nerve tumor, synovial sarcoma and metastatic melanoma, and immunohistochemistry is fundamental do differentiate them5. It shows constant positiveness for the S100 protein, vimentin and cytokeratin antibodies3. Cytokeratin expression is variable in spindle-cell tumors3. The specific muscle actin immunoreaction varies according to cell phenotype3.

The treatment advocated is tumor surgical resection with margins; however, before such procedure, an image exam must be carried out in order to assess the extension and involvement of neighboring structures1,2. In the literature studied, all the cases were treated by surgical resection, and the outcomes were favorable.

The malignant soft palate myoepithelioma is an extremely hard tumor. Its treatment continues being broad resection. The long patient follow up described in the present case corroborates literature data.