Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma : Low-grade

This image shows the prototypic appearance of a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The tumor shows prominent cystic structures lined by a variety of cells, usually one to three layers thick. The predominant cell type is the mucinous cells. Although the original descriptions of this tumor emphasized the mucinous and epidermoid cells, the diagnosis of mucoepidermoid carcinoma can be made in the absence of epidermoid cells. There is no perineural invasion and mitotic figures are rare or absent.