High-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the accessory parotid gland with distant metastases identified by 18F-FDG PET-CT.

We report a rare case of a metastatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) arising from the accessory parotid gland in a 14-year-old male. In the pre-surgical assessment, the MR and CT showed no other abnormalities apart from the primary lesion. The lesion was excised and confirmed as a high-grade MEC. Four months later, he presented with a recurrence in his right temple. A (18)F-FDG PET-CT showed distal metastases in cervical nodes and lungs. In view of the findings and poor prognosis of the patient, surgical intervention and radiotherapy were not given and palliative measures offered. This case shows the potential of molecular imaging with (18)F-FDG PET-CT in these patients. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.