Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung

Background: Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the lung is an uncommon tumor type, arising from minor salivary gland tissue of the tracheobronchial tree. The clinical behavior is varied. We analyzed nine cases of MEC to identify the clinical features and outcomes. Methods: The medical records of patients diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the lung from 1979 to 2006 were reviewed. Results: There were six men and three women aged 23-81 years in this series. The mean age at diagnosis was 45.9 years. Seven patients with low-grade tumors underwent surgery, with no mortality, and all were alive without evidence of recurrence at the time of this study. The other two patients with high-grade tumors received adjuvant therapy but their prognoses were poor: one died at 19.7 months after diagnosis and the other at 27 months. Conclusions: MECs of lung are more common in male patients. The prognostic factors included histological tumor grading and achievement of surgical intervention. Patients with low-grade tumors who underwent surgery had the best outcome. Adjuvant therapy was less effective for the patients with high-grade tumors.