Application of bronchoscope in diagnosis and treatment of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma in children

Abstract

Objective To explore the application of bronchoscope in diagnosis and treatment of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma in children. Methods The clinical data of 4 cases of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma treated in Department of Interventional Pulmonology, Beijing Children's Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from April 2013 to June 2015, were retrospectively analyzed, and their clinical manifestations, chest computed tomography(CT), bronchoscopic manifestations were analyzed. Results Among the 4 cases of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma, 3 cases were low-grade bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma, and 1 case was intermediate grade malignant. Onset of clinical manifestations occurred from the ages of 4 years and 11 months old to 10 years and 9 months old.All patients had no characteristic clinical manifestations, only 2 cases had hemoptysis, while the main symptoms were cough, wheezing, and exercise tolerance decreased in 4 the patients, and they were initially misdiagnosed as pneumonia, asthma or bronchial foreign body.Chest CT prompted that there was circular mass in respiratory tract, the lesions located in left main bronchus in 2 patients, in right bronchus intermedius in 1 patient, and in right middle bronchus in 1 case, and atelectases or emphysema occurred in bronchus.The biopsy by bronchoscope under general anesthesia was performed for more enough specimen in all the 4 patients.The lesions were completely removed in 3 patients by interventional bronchoscopy, and 1 patient by lobectomy. Conclusions The children with bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma were presented with cough and wheezing without specific manifestations. Biopsy by bronchoscope is a good choice for the diagnosis of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Bronchoscopic intervention was effective in the treatment of non-operative carcinoma. Key words: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma; Bronchus; Child; Bronchoscope