Clinicopathological characteristics and molecular analysis of primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) is extremely rare. Herein, we report a case of a 71-year-old male patient with high-grade PMEC involving the right upper lobe that was successfully resected via lobectomy. As a result of invasion into the pleural and paratracheal lymph nodes, four cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin were administered. There were no signs of relapse during 10 months of follow-up. Furthermore, we reviewed the literature and summarized the surgical approaches, prognostic factors, and underlying genetic mechanisms of PMEC, which will benefit clinical treatment.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; MECT1-MAML2 fusion gene; lobectomy; pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

Figure 1

Chest computed tomography (CT) scans. (a) Enhanced CT shows a solitary mass with heterogeneous enhancement in the apico‐posterior segment of the upper lobe of the right lung, approximately 3.5 × 3.4 × 2.7 cm in size. (b) CT taken two months postoperatively shows good recovery.

Figure 2

Hematoxylin–eosin (HE) staining and immunohistochemistry. The tumor cells were diffusely positive for CK 7; partially positive for CK 5/6, p63, and TTF‐1; and negative for p40, NapsinA, SOX‐2, and SPA.

Figure 3

Tumor localization in 695 patients with primary pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Tumors had no particular location tendency and were distributed almost equally among the trachea, right main bronchus (RMB), left main bronchus (LMB), and all lobes of both lungs. Br, bronchus; LLL, LUL, left upper lobe; left lower lobe; RLL, right lower lobe; RML, right middle lobe; RUL, right upper lobe.