A 45-year-old female undergoes total thyroidectomy and is found to have a 4 cm parotid mass. Fine needle aspiration shows mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Which prognostic grading system is most widely used for this tumor?
- A AJCC TNM staging alone
- B Broder's grading
- C AFIP (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology) grading ✓
- D Modified Bloom-Richardson grading
Correct answer: C. AFIP (Armed Forces Institute of Pathology) grading
Explanation
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is graded using the AFIP histological grading system (low, intermediate, and high grade) based on cystic component, neural invasion, necrosis, mitotic rate, and anaplasia. This grading correlates strongly with prognosis — low-grade tumors have >90% 5-year survival while high-grade tumors have <50%. Broder's grading applies to SCC; Bloom-Richardson to breast carcinoma. AJCC TNM staging is used but the histological grade remains the primary determinant of behavior.
Reference: Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose and Throat, 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.