Bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma metastatic to skin. Report of a case and review of the literature

Abstract

A case of bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma is reported, the presentation of which was as cutaneous metastases. Histologic, histochemical, and ultrastructural features of the neoplasm are described, and the literature pertaining to bronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma is reviewed. This case illustrates the potential for aggressive behavior in a mucoepidermoid neoplasm, the histologic features of which are considered low grade by some authors. Because such metastatic lesions may be morphologically identical to tumors that have been described as primary cutaneous mucoepidermoid carcinomas, this differential must be considered by the histopathologist confronted by such a neoplasm.