case_images: PMC10522853_01
case_images: Chest enhanced CT, bronchoscopy, pathological image, and immunohistochemistry assay of case 1. (A,B) Contrast-enhanced CT images of the chest show a space-occupying lesion at the right upper lobe bronchial opening. Arrows indicate space-occupying lesions. (C) Arrow indicates right upper lobe atelectasis. (D) Visual depiction of flexible bronchoscopy, confirming the presence of a ball-shaped soft solid tumor originating from the right upper lobe bronchus. (E) Photomicrograph (HE x 100) shows the confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma. (F) Photomicrograph shows positive immunohistochemical staining for CK (magnification x 100).
case_images: fped-11-1232185-g001.jpg
case_images: PMC10522853_01_fped-11-1232185-g001.jpg
case_images: F1
case_images: Chest contrast-enhanced CT revealed a space-occupying lesion at the bronchial opening of the right upper lobe, with uneven enhancement (Figures 1A-C). On the fifth day of hospitalization, flexible bronchoscopy (Figure 1D) and biopsy were performed. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining of the specimen showed that the tumor cells were arranged in nests or glandular tubes, with abundant cytoplasm and epithelioid appearance, and the area was rich in mucus (Figure 1E). Immunohistochemical analysis yielded remarkably positive results for the expression of cytokeratin (CK), CK-7, CK-19, and periodic acid-schiff stain (Figure 1F), while showing relatively weaker positivity for epithelial membrane antigen (EMA).
case_images: PMC10522853_02
case_images: Chest enhanced CT, bronchoscopy, pathological image and immunohistochemistry assay of case 2. Contrast-enhanced CT of the chest shows (A,B) a blockage of the right superior lobe bronchus. Arrows indicate space-occupying lesions. (C) Atelectasis of the right superior lobe. (D) Visual representation of flexible bronchoscopy, confirming the presence of a mass in the right superior lobular bronchus. (E) Photomicrograph (HE x 100) shows the confirmed diagnosis of pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma. (F) Photomicrograph shows positive immunohistochemical staining for CK (magnification x 100).
case_images: fped-11-1232185-g002.jpg
case_images: PMC10522853_02_fped-11-1232185-g002.jpg
case_images: F2
case_images: This radiological finding raised suspicions of malignancy, supported by concurrent mediastinal lymph node metastasis and atelectasis of the right upper lobe (Figures 2A-C). Flexible bronchoscopy (Figure 2D) and biopsy revealed a mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the right superior lobe bronchus. HE staining of the excised tissue specimens showed a variety of mucoid cells, epidermoid cells, and intermediate cells, some of which were solid and others were arranged in a glandular tube configuration (Figure 2E). Immunohistochemical analysis yielded remarkably positive results for the expression of CK, CK-7, CK-19 and EMA (Figure 2F), while showing weaker positivity for chromogranin A and CK-20.