Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of lung: one case report and literature review

Abstract

Objective To improve the understanding of primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of lung. Methods Based on the clinical data of one patient with primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma, we collected the clinical data of 199 cases from 13 articles in China and reviewed the related domestic and foreign literatures.The etiology, clinical manifestations, radiological features, pathological characteristics, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis were analyzed and summarized. Results The etiology of primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of lung was not clear, and the clinical symptoms of the disease included cough, expectoration, chest tightness and chest pain.However, these symptoms were unspecific.It was shown as atelectasis or pneumonia in chest X-ray.It was demonstrated as smooth and lobulated mass or polypoid mass with distal bronchial mucoid impaction and distal atelectasis.It was characterized by pathology as varying proportions of mucus-secreting, squamous (epidermoid) and intermediate cells, without keratinization.The primary choice of treatment for the disease was surgery, and the effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy were not confirmed yet.The prognosis was better than the ordinary non-small cell lung cancer. Conclusions Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of lung is rare and easy to be misdiagnosed.It is necessary to further study the characteristics of the disease so as to improve curative effect and prognosis. Key words: Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma of lung; Clinical features