Adjuvant conundrum in central mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the mandible: case presentation and literature review.

The cornerstone modality of treatment of central mucoepidermoid carcinoma (CMEC) of the mandible is surgery, optimally, an en bloc resection with/without segmental or hemimandibulectomy. Notwithstanding the documentation of a survival benefit in few case reports with the addition of postoperative radiotherapy in carefully selected high-risk patients, there does not exist a clearly defined consensus regarding the role of adjuvant radiotherapy. We report the case of a 49-year-old man who presented with right lower jaw swelling which on imaging was found to be a multiloculated lesion causing bony expansion and cortical destruction of the mandible and was diagnosed with CMEC after radiological and histopathological criteria were met. He underwent right hemimandibulectomy and histopathology showed squamous and mucinous cells with positive mucicarmine staining and characteristic immunohistochemistry markers confirming the diagnosis of CMEC. He subsequently underwent adjuvant radiotherapy and is disease free 5 years since treatment completion.