Calcifications may be a frequent finding in mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the salivary glands: a clinicopathologic study

Calcifications in mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the salivary glands are considered to be exceptionally rare and are often associated with high-grade tumors. This study reviewed 30 cases of MECs to access the frequency of calcifications and the clinical profile of the patients and histopathologic aspects of the tumors. In total, 6 cases of calcifications (20%) were identified. Five patients were women and 1 was a man, patients' ages ranged from 22 to 69 years old, and calcifications were found in conventional and clear cell–type MECs. Areas of calcification showed positivity for periodic acid–Schiff and mucicarmine, supporting the hypothesis that they originate from the precipitation of mucous secretion. The presence of calcifications in MECs was independent of the histologic grade of the tumors and the histopathologic variants. Calcifications in salivary MECs may not be as rare as previously mentioned in the literature and may be not associated with high-grade tumors.