Oral Pathology
Marko M. Yacoub, DMD
Resident
Geisinger Medical Center
Geisinger Medical Center
Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Raymond Shupak, DMD, MD
Geisinger Medical Center
Natalie Stinton, DMD
Program Director
Geisinger Medical Center
Danville, Pennsylvania, United States
Natalie Stinton, DMD
Program Director
Geisinger Medical Center
Danville, Pennsylvania, United States
Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a rare neoplasm arising from the neural crest cells. It typically presents in the head and neck region in patients less than 1 years of age. Although it is considered a benign lesion, the lesion is often locally aggressive and can mimic a malignancy. Additionally, there are reports of metastatic spread and mortality associated with the tumor. We present a case report of a 16-week-old male who presented with a chief complaint of “a bump on his front lip” at a tertiary medical center. Upon clinical examination, a 3 cm mass was observed in the right maxilla associated with local bony destruction. The patient was treated with surgical excision after the appropriate workup was completed and is currently being followed clinically for recurrence. MNTI can pose a challenge in diagnosis and treatment. This report details the diagnosis and management of a MNTI using a multidisciplinary approach.