Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy in an African-indigenous patient from the Amazon: a case report

Head Face Med. 2013 Nov 25:9:35. doi: 10.1186/1746-160X-9-35.

Abstract

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy (MNTI) is a rare condition that occurs normally in the anterior maxilla of infants aged <1 year. The use of clinical and imaging tools for MNTI is extremely important to prevent problems with function as well as the aesthetic features in a breastfeeding child. Brazil is a multiethnic country with a poor epidemiological policy and little data to track the incidence of certain diseases, including MNTI. It is important to study this pathology with ethnicity as a factor to improve the current epidemiological programs and establish better post-treatment management. This paper describes a case of a 2-month-old male of African-indigenous descent and Brazilian Amazon residency, who presented to our unit in 2009 with a history of an expanding mass involving the anterior maxilla. Clinical and computerized tomography scans were used to diagnose the mass as MNTI, which was removed by total excision. A biopsy later confirmed the MNTI diagnosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Black People*
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Indians, South American*
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Maxillary Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Maxillary Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Maxillary Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Maxillary Neoplasms / surgery
  • Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic / diagnosis*
  • Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic / diagnostic imaging
  • Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic / ethnology*
  • Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic / surgery
  • Oral Surgical Procedures
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed