Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma in the ventral surface of the tongue.

Myoepithelial-epithelial carcinoma (MEC) is a low malignancy grade neoplasia which has a prevalence of 1% to 2% among all primary tumors of the salivary gland. It has a higher incidence at 60 years of age. About 60% of the patients are females. The parotid gland is the most often reported anatomical site; nonetheless, other sites have been reported, such as the submandibular gland, minor salivary glands, paranasal sinus, trachea, lacrymal gland and nasal cavity. Rare are the instances in which this tumor involves the tongue1. Clinically speaking, the well outlined swelling is the only signal, associated or not with pain. Microscopic findings reveal a solid tubular growth which is usually made up of a group of internal epithelial cells with eosinophylic cytoplasm and another group of external myoepithelial cells (MC) with clear cytoplasm.