Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Lung : A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract EN

Introduction.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the lung is a rare form of lung cancer that is classified into low grade and high grade based on histological features.

Surgical resection is the primary treatment for low-grade MEC with excellent outcomes, while high-grade MEC is a more aggressive form of malignancy.

Clinical Case.

We report a case of a 46-year-old woman who presented with dyspnea on exertion.

Imaging studies revealed a mass involving the right upper lobe bronchus.

Bronchoscopy, surgical resection, and pathological examination revealed a low-grade MEC with tumor-free margins.

No adjuvant treatment was given.

Discussion.

Primary pulmonary MEC is a rare type of lung cancer with only few reported cases.

This patient illustrates a typical presentation for low-grade MEC wherein surgical resection is considered curative.

In contrast, high-grade MEC is a more aggressive malignancy with a poorer outcome.

The role of targeted therapy directed against EGFR or a novel CRTC1-MAML2 fusion protein expressed in some high-grade tumors is yet to be determined.