Case report of a rare postoperative cervical lymph node metastasis of palate mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, imaging features, diagnostic approaches, and treatment strategies of Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma (MEC). METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of a patient admitted to the department of oral and maxillofacial surgery at College of Stomatology, GuangXi Medical University in 2025. Surgery was performed for inpatient treatment, during which the right cervical tumor was completely removed and cervical lymph node dissection was completed, and a 11-month postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: This case describes a 47-year-old Asian female patient who developed tumor metastasis to the right cervical region 11 years after undergoing resection of a well-differentiated MEC in the right palate. Physical examination revealed multiple nodular and mass-like lymph nodes in the right neck. Postoperative histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of MEC. CONCLUSION: This study focused on describing the clinical characteristics of a case with MEC, highlighting that although the initial treatment was effective, the risk of neck metastasis persists. The unique insights gained from this case help us better understand the long-term development pattern of MEC, emphasize the importance of long-term close follow-up, and highlight postoperative radiotherapy.