Central mucoepidermoid tumors of the jaws. Report of nine cases and review of the literature.

Nine previously unreported cases of central mucoepidermoid tumor of the jaws (CMET) are presented and forty-one previously reported examples are reviewed. The mandible was involved in thirth-four cases and the maxilla in sixteen. The CMET is more common in females and has been reported in patients from 1 to 85 years of age. Most cases occur in the fourth and fifth decades. Radiographically, the CMET usually resembles an ameloblastoma or odontogenic cyst. Most CMET's are histologically well-differentiated lesions. Thirteen tumors recurred after various forms of therapy. Regional node metastasis was reported in four cases, and four patients died as a result of their tumors.