A case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma originating from peripheral bronchiole distinguished from radiographically diagnosed pulmonary hamartoma

Abstract

A 28-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with abnormal shadow on chest X-ray. A mass was detected between 1t. B⁸a and 1t. B⁸b on chest CT with a clear margin, and was evaluated as pulmonary hamartoma radiographically. During operation, the tumor was enucleated and diagnosed as mucoepidermoid carcinoma histologically. Left lower lobectomy was additionally performed. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a low-grade malignant tumor, usually located in the central bronchus. This case is interesting because radiographicallydiagnosed distinction from pulmonary hamartoma was needed, and because it originated in the peripheral bronchus.