TRACHEOBRONCHIAL MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL FEATURES AND RESULTS OF TREATMENT

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 76  (4) , 431-438
Abstract
Mucoepidermoid carcinomas of the tracheobronchial tree are extremely uncommon and, as a result, opinions regarding their natural history are conflicting. In an effort to determine whether the tumors are aggressive or relatively benign, 7 well-documented, previously unreported cases were collected from among 4250 primary pulmonary carcinomas and 116 bronchial adenomas. The 2 tracheal and 5 endobronchial lesions presented include 1 high-grade and 6 low-grade tumors. Curative resections were performed, including segmental tracheal resections in 2 patients, lobectomy in 3 and pneumonectomy in 2 patients. The follow-up was complete. Long-term survivals ranging from 5-23 yr, averaging 12.8 yr, were achieved in the 6 patients with a low-grade carcinoma. The 1 high-grade variant proved fatal within 28 mo. of diagnosis despite 2 surgical attempts at control, and radiotherapy. These tumors exhibited a spectrum of virulence with low-grade lesions amenable to long-term surgical cure. The optimum treatment of high-grade lesions remains problematical.

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