A mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a young man with intellectual disability: review of oral cancer in people with intellectual disability

Oral tumors in patients with intellectual disabilities (ID) remain poorly documented, despite cancer incidence suggesting that malignancies are globally as frequent in this group as in the general population. A clinical case of a 36-year-old man with severe ID presenting with a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of intermediate grade in the right mandible is reported. Delayed diagnosis and problems managing complementary chemotherapy and radiotherapy are described. The literature review reported only 27 cases of malignant tumors in patients with ID. This finding indicates that oral tumors in patients with ID may be less frequent than in the general population, are usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and may occur in patients who are younger than the general population. Diagnosis and treatment are difficult, implying a comprehensive knowledge of the underlying condition of each individual and the need for good communication skills to obtain patient cooperation, including an understanding of how the patient expresses pain.