Clear cell myoepithelial carcinoma in the base of the tongue: Case report and review of the literature

Clear cell myoepithelial carcinoma is a very rare disease which develops primarily in the parotid gland. To date, only 17 cases of clear cell myoepithelial carcinoma have been reported worldwide. Among them, only three cases developed in the minor salivary gland in the oral cavity. No cases developed in the base of the tongue. Here, we report a new case of clear cell myoepithelial carcinoma that developed in the tongue base of a 52-year-old female patient. A mass was discovered on the left side of the tongue base. We successfully removed the mass through suprahyoid pharyngotomy approach. The light microscopy examination and various immunohistochemical stainings revealed clear cell myoepithelial carcinoma. During a two year follow-up period, there was no recurrence or local or distant metastasis.