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Case Reports
. 2011 Oct 11:6:132.
doi: 10.1186/1749-8090-6-132.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung: a case report

Masahiro Kitada  1 , Yoshinari Matsuda, Kazuhiro Sato, Satoshi Hayashi, Kei Ishibashi, Naoyuki Miyokawa, Tadahiro Sasajima
Affiliations
Case Reports

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung: a case report

Masahiro Kitada et al. J Cardiothorac Surg. .

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung (MEC) is a tumor of low malignant potential of bronchial gland origin. MEC and adenoid cystic carcinoma are both considered to be salivary gland-type neoplasms. MECs are comparatively rare with an incidence of all lung cancers. We recently encountered a case of this type of lung cancer. A 60-year-old man was found to have an abnormal shadow in the left lower lung field on a regular check-up for lung cancer at his company. Chest radiography and CT revealed a mass shadow measuring 30 mm in diameter in the left lower lung field. Bronchoscopy revealed a protuberant tumor in the S9 bronchus, leading to a diagnosis of low-grade MEC by transbronchial lung biopsy. He underwent left lower lobe resection and mediastinal lymph node dissection using VATS. Tumor cells had a scattering of mucus-producing epithelial components in papillary growth of stratified squamous epithelia with anisokaryosis and minimal pleomorphism, indicating a diagnosis of MEC. Because the postoperative course was good and the tumor was low-grade, no adjuvant treatment was administered. The patient has had no signs of tumor recurrence for 9 months, to date, since resection of the tumor.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Chest radiography revealed a mass shadow in the left lower lung field.
Figure 2
Figure 2
CT showed a mass shadow measuring 30 mm in diameter in S9.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The macroscopic specimen showed a mass localized into the arborization of the S9 bronchus and obstructive pneumonitis was accompanied at the peripheral lung.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Histological findings showing a mass diagnosed MEC. (HE × 200).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Immunohistochemical examination revealed that tumor cells were positive for Periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS) (×100).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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