Oral bleeding as a postoperative complication in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of minor salivary glands: case report

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the minor salivary glands, with a predilection for the hard palate. Its clinical diagnosis can be challenging, and surgical intervention remains the treatment of choice. However, postoperative complications such as oral bleeding require prompt and specialized attention. This study describes the case of a 63-year-old male with a history of intellectual disability and Parkinson’s disease, who underwent excision of a mass in the upper left buccal mucosa four days before hospital admission. He had previously undergone resection of a low-grade malignant lesion in the hard palate. The patient presented active oral bleeding, which was controlled with mechanical hemostasis and intravenous tranexamic acid. Laboratory tests revealed severe thrombocytopenia, but no signs of purpuric syndrome. He was discharged with outpatient follow-up. The case highlights a rare but clinically significant complication in the postoperative management of salivary gland tumors. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and high-resolution ultrasonography have proven to be key tools in surgical planning, minimizing complications through accurate diagnosis. Furthermore, the clinical and histological patterns of low-grade MEC, as observed in this case, are generally associated with a favorable prognosis, although adverse events cannot be entirely ruled out. Careful postoperative follow-up and precise surgical planning are essential in MEC patients. It is concluded that the occurrence of postoperative oral bleeding requires immediate evaluation to rule out coagulopathies and tumor recurrence, especially in patients with complex comorbidities.