Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung presenting as a cavitary lesion.
The authors describe a 62-year-old female patient who presented with a progressively enlarging cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe of the lung. Acid-fast bacilli were recovered from a bronchial washing fluid and identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She received antituberculous therapy for 5 months without improvement in her clinical symptoms and chest radiograph. A lobectomy was performed and pathological review demonstrated a high-grade mucoepidermoid lung carcinoma with extensive central necrosis. Staging revealed metastases in her left adrenal gland, kidney and spine. High-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung may present as a cavitary lesion. The presence of M. tuberculosis should not preclude clinicians from pursuing adequate diagnostic procedures for a possible malignant lesion.
Department of Medicine, Loyola University Medical Center and Hines Veteran Affair Hospital, Maywood, IL, USA.
Tawee
T
Tanvetyanon
Vorachai
V
Ratanatharathorn
Juvady
J
Leopairat
D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid