title: Low-Grade and High-Grade Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma of the Lung: CT Findings and Clinical Features of 17 Cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of our study was to characterize the CT features and clinical findings of low-grade and high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the lung.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CT findings and clinical information of 17 consecutive patients with primary low-grade (n = 11) or high-grade (n = 6) MEC were analyzed retrospectively. We assessed tumor location, size, contour, margin, density, calcification, obstructive changes, presence of metastasis, and enhancement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with low-grade MEC, tumor location was central in 10 and peripheral in one. In contrast, one and five tumors in patients with high-grade MEC were central and peripheral, respectively. There was a significant difference between central and peripheral locations among tumor grades (p = 0.005). In low-grade MECs, tumor contour was smoothly oval (n = 3) or spheric (n = 4); four were lobular. In five patients with low-grade MEC, tumors had well-defined margins; margins in the other six were poorly defined. Tumor density was homogeneous and heterogeneous in eight and three low-grade tumors, respectively. All six high-grade tumors had heterogeneous density, lobular contours, and poorly defined margins. Enhancement in both low-grade and high-grade tumors was greater than that of chest wall muscles, and low-grade tumors showed greater enhancement (46.90 ± 20.44 HU) than did high-grade tumors (22.50 ± 8.38 HU) (p = 0.015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A markedly enhanced homogeneous central bronchial nodule or mass may suggest low-grade MEC. High-grade MEC tends to be peripheral, to have poorly defined margins, and to be lobular, heterogeneous nodules or masses with less enhancement.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng Rd E, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China.|2 Cancer Prevention Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Yiqi Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng Rd E, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China.
authors.forename: Yunxian X
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Mo
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng Rd E, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Pathology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Rongzhen Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng Rd E, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China.
authors.forename: Siyue Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Cancer Center, Sun Yat-sen University, 651 Dongfeng Rd E, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China.
authors.forename: Jingxian X
authors.initials: JX
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007472:Iohexol; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007472:Iohexol
keywords: CT; contrast enhancement; lung; mucoepidermoid carcinoma