Which of the following is the most common malignant tumour of the salivary glands in children?

• A Mucoepidermoid carcinoma ✓
• B Adenoid cystic carcinoma
• C Acinic cell carcinoma
• D Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma

Explanation

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the commonest malignant salivary neoplasm both in adults overall and especially in children, where it accounts for roughly half of paediatric malignant cases. It arises more often in the parotid than in minor glands. Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma requires a long-standing pre-existing benign tumour and is essentially a disease of older adults, so it cannot be the answer in a child. Acinic cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma are less frequent in this age group.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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