Histopathologic Grading of Salivary Gland Neoplasms: I. Mucoepidermoid Carcinomas

Abstract

Histopathologic grading of salivary gland neoplasms has been done with various degrees of success and hence various degrees of acceptance among pathologists and otolaryngologists–head and neck surgeons. Given their histopathologic diversity, three carcinomas — Mucoepidermoid, adenoid cystic, and acinic cell — would seem to be suitable candidates for grading. In this, the first of a three-part series, the authors present a three-level grading scheme for mucoepidermoid carcinomas. It combines histocytologic and growth features of the carcinomas that independently or together, in other grading proposals, have shown prognostic value.