Tuberc Respir Dis.  2008 Jul;65(1):41-48. 10.4046/trd.2008.65.1.41.

A Case of Intermediate Grade Bronchial Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma and Review in Korean Cases

• Cha SC
• Kim SW
• Cho YJ
• Park SK
• Park HK
• Kim JS
• Kwak JW
• Yoo MB
• Cho HJ
• Lee JJ

• KMID: 1478216
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2008.65.1.41

Abstract

Bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma is uncommon, representing 0.2% of all lung tumors. The disease usually presents with symptoms of airway obstruction and recurrent pneumonia. It is commonly classified into two grades in Korea, low and high. We report a case of a bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a 40-year-old woman who complained of symptoms of an upper respiratory infection. The histological grade after a bronchoscopic biopsy was intermediate. A left upper lobectomy was performed as treatment. The TNM stage of this case was IA (T1N0M0). In addition, 25 cases of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma from 1984 in Korea are also reviewed from the viewpoint of the relationship between the histological grade, TNM stage and clinical course of the tumor.

Keyword

Bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Intermediate grade; TNM stage; PET

MeSH Terms

Adult
Airway Obstruction
Biopsy
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid
Female
Humans
Korea
Lung
Pneumonia

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chest X-ray shows hazy opacities in the lingular segment of the left lung, around the left cardiac border.

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  Figure 2 Computed tomography scan reveals focal ateletatic change on left lingular segment, but no mass is seen in endobronchial area.

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  Figure 3 Flexible bronchoscopy reveals 1.8 cm sized, soft yellowish tumor deriving from the bronchial wall. It has much mucoid like material and is bulging into the ostium of lingular segment of bronchus (arrows).

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  Figure 4 Positron Emission Tomography at lower lung level. There was 18F-fluoro deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake in the bronchial area.

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  Figure 5 A yellowish solid endobronchical mass was seen, which is 1.8×3.0 cm sized and arising from the bronchial wall.

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  Figure 6 Histology of the tumour. The nuclear showed moderate pleomorphism. But tumor cell showed few mitotic figures (less than 5 per 50 HPF). Well differentiated Goblet cell is seen at central portion. Necrosis is absent (H&E stain, ×400).

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  Figure 7 Immunohistochemical stain of Cytokeratin 7 (A) was positive and TTF-1 (B) was negative.

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