Mucoepidermoid carcinoma as an unusual cause for recurrent respiratory infections in a child.
Recurrent respiratory infections in a 9-year-old girl prompted a chest radiograph and a CT scan, which showed a right middle lobe consolidation. Bronchoscopy revealed a tumor that totally obstructed the middle lobe. Open lung biopsy revealed a low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Middle and lower right lung lobectomy was performed, followed by an uneventful recovery. Cytogenetic investigation of tumor cells exhibited the translocation t(11;19). This case shows that further diagnostic modalities such as CT scanning should be performed early in children with recurrent lower respiratory tract infections who have suspicious radiographic findings such as persistent atelectasis or recurrent unifocal infiltration. Bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma is infrequent, and molecular investigations might shed additional light on the prognosis.
Vogelberg
Christian
C
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University of Dresden, Dresden, Germany. christian.vogelberg@uniklinikum-dresden.de
Mohr
Brigitte
B
Fitze
Guido
G
Friedrich
Katrin
K
Hahn
Gabriele
G
Roesner
Dietmar
D
Leupold
Wolfgang
W
Suttorp
Meinolf
M
D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D013510:Pulmonary Surgical Procedures; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed