Rapid metastasis of stage IA primary pulmonary high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma with a cystic airspace: a case report and reflection

Primary pulmonary high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) with a cystic airspace is uncommon, and early metastasis is extremely rare. In such cases, however, it is clinically important for clinicians to consider whether the tumor has spread to the lymph nodes through the cystic airspace. A 77-year-old man presented to our hospital with cough and hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography showed a 25-mm-diameter mass with a cystic airspace located in the upper lobe of the left lung. The possibility of malignancy was considered. Without a definitive preoperative diagnosis, left upper lobectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy were performed. Histopathological examination revealed the typical histological characteristics of high-grade MEC (stage IA) and no lymph node metastasis. However, lymph node metastasis was found 6 months after surgical resection, and radiochemotherapy was performed. The patient developed widespread metastatic disease 4 months following completion of radiochemotherapy and died 2 months later. Primary pulmonary MEC with a cystic airspace is a rare malignant disease with uncommon imaging findings. Complete surgical resection is the main treatment method for high-grade MEC. In this case, we hypothesize that early metastasis was caused by seeding of tumor cells through the cystic airspace.