Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma with local intrabronchial invasion in a young lady: A case report of successful management via uniportal VATS sleeve lobectomy

Abstract

Introduction and importance

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is an extremely rare type of lung cancer, accounting for approximately 0.2–0.4 % of all lung cancers. It typically presents as a central airway lesion, with symptoms such as cough, hemoptysis, bronchitis, wheezing, fever, chest pain, and clubbing of the fingers. Histologically similar to tumors in major salivary glands, it mostly arises from small salivary glands that line the tracheobronchial tree.

Case presentation

We have reported a rare case of intrabronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma that extended extra-bronchially in a 25-year-old female presenting with hemoptysis for 10 days associated with mild cough and wheezing. A computerized tomography (CT) scan revealed a 3.5 cm lesion in the right upper bronchus, and fiber optic bronchoscopy confirmed an intrabronchial lesion. We performed right sleeve lobectomy via a novel Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (U-VATS) approach.

Discussion

Since Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) frequently manifests with vague symptoms, diagnosing it when it spreads from extra-bronchial intrabronchial can be difficult and uncommon. The typical histology of Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) composed of varying 3 cell types, but the histology of our case was single cell type and it was diagnosed by genetic analysis in another advanced hospital. The effectiveness and safety of Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (UVATS) have been acknowledged globally. Shorter surgical times, less pain, and a decreased requirement for extensive chest tube drainage are all linked to this technique.

Conclusion

This case illustrates how a young woman's intrabronchial mucoepidermoid carcinoma was successfully treated with a sleeve lobectomy performed via Uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).