Bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A case report.
BACKGROUND
Bronchial localization of Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is rare. The precise nature of these neoplasms is not yet clear and little is known on the histogenesis and pathogenesis of the disease. Here we present a case of a bronchial MEC with a detailed pathological, immunohistochemical, and molecular analysis.


METHODS
A 46 years old Caucasian male patient was referred to our Unit for fever, non productive cough and dyspnea lasting for two months. The chest CT scan evidenced an 8-mm intraluminal lesion in the left main bronchus, in correspondence of the origin of the lingular segmental bronchus. Multiple biopsies were performed through bronchoscopy, and the diagnosis of a mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung was obtained. A left upper lobectomy was performed. The histopathological examination confirmed the preoperative diagnosis and stage (pT1N0M0). No further therapies were employed, given the stage of the disease. The patient is presently free of disease, approximately three years after surgery.


CONCLUSIONS
The treatment of MECs is usually surgical by traditional or sleeve lobectomy, performed with an open or video-assisted technique, with the aim of an R0 resection. In this stage the prognosis is excellent. Conversely, high grade tumors seems to be particularly aggressive, even more than other NSCLC.


CONCLUSIONS
Low grade type of Bronchial MEC, as our case, is often characterized by an optimal clinical management and prognosis. The lack of EGFR sensitizing mutations does not preclude the use of TKIs, which may be extremely useful in patients non responsive to other therapies.
Respiratory Disease Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: fois.ale@libero.it.
Alessandro G
AG
Fois
Respiratory Disease Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: dianagabriela79@yahoo.it.
Gabriella
G
Diana
Respiratory Disease Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.arcadu@live.it.
Antonella
A
Arcadu
Respiratory Disease Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: vivy.marr@gmail.com.
Viviana
V
Marras
Unit of Radiology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: paocri2000@gmail.com.
Paola
P
Crivelli
Unit of Oncology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: cputzu@gmail.com.
Carlo
C
Putzu
Unit of General Surgery, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: edosec@yahoo.it.
Giorgio C
GC
Ginesu
Respiratory Disease Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: saretta06@hotmail.it.
Sara
S
Canu
Respiratory Disease Institute, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43, 07100, Sassari, Italy. Electronic address: pirina@uniss.it.
Pietro
P
Pirina
Bronchus; Cancer; Case report; Egfr; Lung; Mucoepidermoid; TKIs