Low-Grade Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Mimicking a Mucocele in the Soft Palate: A Case Report

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant salivary gland tumor, but its occurrence in the soft palate and among pediatric patients is unusual. This case highlights the rarity of this condition in children. A nine-year-old girl with a history of recurrent respiratory infections and allergic rhinitis with nasal obstruction developed a cystic, fluctuating lesion on the right side of her soft palate, initially diagnosed as a mucocele. She underwent septoplasty with complete removal of the lesion, and a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma was incidentally diagnosed. MECs usually present as painless, slow-growing tumors that are often mistaken for benign growths because of their appearance and the presence of many differential diagnoses. This case underscores the importance of histopathological examination of seemingly benign palate lesions and highlights the need for a multidisciplinary approach when an incidental finding is made.