Malignant mimicry: A rare case of pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma presenting as obstructive pneumonia

Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinomas (PMECs) are rare malignancies that often present with non-specific pulmonary symptoms and obstructive pneumonia. We present a 19-year-old female who presented with two years of recurrent pneumonia, dyspnea, and left-sided pleuritic pain. Review of serial ED imaging would identify a persistent lung infiltrate located in the left upper lobe. Bronchoscopy with extensive pathology analysis would confirm MAML2-positive stage IB mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The patient underwent curative treatment consisting of a sleeve lobectomy and was placed under close follow-up and monitoring. This case emphasizes the importance of having a high clinical index of suspicion with symptoms indicative of obstructive pneumonia in otherwise healthy young adults.