Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung presenting as a cavitary lesion
Tanvetyanon, T.; Ratanatharathorn, V.; Leopairat, J.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 87(8): 988-991
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 15471307 Document Number: 2382
The authors describe a 62-year-old female patient who presented with a progressively enlarging cavitary lesion in the right upper lobe of the lung. Acid-fast bacilli were recovered from a bronchial washing fluid and identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. She received antituberculous therapy for 5 months without improvement in her clinical symptoms and chest radiograph. A lobectomy was performed and pathological review demonstrated a high-grade mucoepidermoid lung carcinoma with extensive central necrosis. Staging revealed metastases in her left adrenal gland, kidney and spine. High-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung may present as a cavitary lesion. The presence of M. tuberculosis should not preclude clinicians from pursuing adequate diagnostic procedures for a possible malignant lesion.
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