title: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung: a case report and literature review.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alsidawi
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Wikenheiser-Brokamp
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Starnes
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Karim