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[Surgically treated mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a 6-year-old boy; report of a case]
K Tomiyama1, H Ishida, M Miyake
1Department of Chest Surgery, Kitano Hospital, The Tazuke Kofukai Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan.
Insights
A rare pediatric mucoepidermoid carcinoma caused recurrent pneumonia and hemoptysis in a 6-year-old boy. Surgical resection was successful, with no recurrence observed three years post-operation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pulmonary Medicine
Background:
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare malignancy, particularly in pediatric patients.
- Recurrent obstructive pneumonia and hemoptysis can indicate serious underlying pulmonary pathology.
Observation:
- A 6-year-old boy presented with recurrent obstructive pneumonia and hemoptysis.
- Chest CT revealed left lower lobe atelectasis; angiography identified bronchial artery bleeding.
- Surgical resection of the left lower lobe was performed due to persistent hemoptysis.
Findings:
- Macroscopic examination showed a mass, bronchiectasis, and abscess in the resected lung.
- Histopathology confirmed the tumor as mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
- Immunohistochemistry revealed CA 19-9 positivity in some tumor cells.
Implications:
- This case highlights mucoepidermoid carcinoma as a rare but treatable cause of hemoptysis in children.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- Long-term surveillance is important for pediatric cancer survivors.
Abstract:
A 6-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital with a history of recurrent obstructive pneumonia and hemoptysis. A chest computed tomography (CT) showed atelectasis in the left lower lobe. Angiograpy, which was performed for the suspicion of pulmonary sequestration, showed no feeding artery and revealed bleeding from the bronchial artery in the left lower lobe. As hemoptysis would not stop, an emergency left lower lobectomy was performed. Macroscopic examination of the resected specimen revealed a mass measuring 20 x 15 x 17 mm in the S8 proximal lung parenchyma, bronchiectasis, and an abscess in the distal lung parenchyma. Histopathologic examination determined the tumor was a mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining revealed some tumor cells were positive for CA 19-9. The child has not had a recurrence 3 years postoperatively.
