Dr Shivam Vatsal, consultant  and Dr Sumant Gupta, senior consultant, Department of Cancer Care of Sarvodaya hospital share their perspective on the successful operation of a 6-year-old girl who was diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma. ByAngela Paljor

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of Parotid gland is one of the rarest type of cancers reported in children. It is a tumour that usually occurs in the salivary glands. Till date there has been a limited number of seven cases reported around the world, of which five were girls. One such case was a six-year-old girl, Sweety, a resident of Faridabad who initially faced swelling in her left cheek, near the ear. She underwent biopsy in a government hospital which confirmed mucoepidermoid carcinoma. She was later referred to Sarvodaya hospital, Faridabad where she underwent surgery and is now tumour free.

Dr Shivam Vatsal, Consultant, Department of Cancer Care said, “Since the patient was only 6 years old, it was crucial to not only remove the tumour but also to secure 100 per cent functionality of the facial nerve which has five distinct branches, any injury could have caused disformation. With the availability of advanced technologies  and the fact that she was brought in on time, saved her life.” In India 90 per cent of the patients visit the doctor at their final stages of cancer, leaving a limited ground for them to be completely cured.

laxman Patel, Sweety’s father was concerned about the initial symptoms which started occurring two years back because of which she was not able to intake proper diet. “We took her to a homeopathy doctor after which things worsened. later she was operated but three months down the line the lump started to grow,” shared Patel.

Sweety was diagnosed with cancer at early stage 3A — partially localised disease. MRI was then done which showcased tumor in the remnant parotid with intraparotid lymph nodes and neck nodes. “Once the imaging (scanning the organs effected by the tumour) of the tumour was completed, we started with planning — vital structures had to be saved along with the tumour being removed. For assurance the patient underwent biopsy twice and after a successful operation of around two and a half hours, she was diagnosed cancer free,” added Vatsal. During the surgery, it was found that the tumour was present in the deep lobe of parotid. Sweety was able to tolerate the surgery and was discharged on the fourth day after the surgery.

The six-year-old girl is yet to undergo radiation which will behave as an insurance  for any recurrence. Dr Sumant Gupta, Senior Consultant, Department of Cancer Care shared, “Mucoepidermoid carcinoma in children is birth related when there occurs mutation in DNA heads. However, the concept of being exposed to toxin does not stand any ground at such an early age as it takes 15 to 16 years to be exposed to toxins.”

Gupta stresses on bi-annual and annual health check-ups. Proper diet and restraining from nicotine and alcohol consumption is also essential. Self examination is a major factor to detect cancer at the initial stage, especially in case of breast, cervical and prostrate cancer.