From asthma exacerbation to pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A rare case report

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) is a rare lung tumor, accounting 0.1-0.2 % of lung malignancies, commonly affecting adults under 50. PMEC arises from salivary gland tissue within the lung and can resemble other lung cancers, which challenging the diagnosis.

A 50-year-old woman with asthma presented with increased cough and abdominal pain. An incidental lung mass on CT was confirmed as low-grade PMEC. She underwent right lower lobectomy via video-assisted thoracoscopy (VATS), complicated by a pulmonary embolism, which was managed successfully. Follow-up imaging revealed a new nodule, later found to be benign.

Despite of its rarity, PMEC should be considered in patients with respiratory symptoms, especially in unsuccsisful treatments, such as asthma management. PMEC's central location can lead to misdiagnosis as non-small cell lung cancer, but immunohistochemistry and histopathology are key for accurate differentiation. VATS is the preferred surgical approach for resectable PMEC, providing benefits of reduced recovery time and complications compared to open surgery. While low-grade PMEC has a generally favorable prognosis, cases like this highlight the importance of follow-up, as recurrence or new lesions can emerge post-resection, necessitating vigilant monitoring.

This case highlights the diagnostic and management challenges of PMEC, underscoring the importance of incidental findings, tailored surgical approaches, and proactive follow-up.