Hemoptysis as an initial symptom of pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a child

Nuñez-Paucar H.; Atamari-Anahui N.; Cruzado-Villanueva C.; Gómez-Ponce V. · Boletin Medico del Hospital Infantil de Mexico (2025) · DOI: 10.24875/bmhim.24000136

Resumen

Background: Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare neoplasm in children. Nonspecific symptoms such as hemoptysis may delay diagnosis because they are confused with other respiratory diseases. Clinical case: A 9-year-old male patient presented recurrent episodes of cough and hemoptysis. The patient had two similar episodes associated with wheezing in previous months and was treated as an asthma attack. Radiological studies and bronchoscopy reported a lung mass obstructing the left main bronchus, causing atelectasis and involvement of the left lung. Transthoracic biopsy was positive for a salivary gland tumor. Treatment was surgical (left pneumonectomy). Histopathological and immunohistochemical studies reported low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. He did not receive chemotherapy. After two years of follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, and we did not see any recurrence. Conclusions: Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma is rare in children. Hemoptysis and signs of bronchial obstruction may mimic other respiratory diseases, causing a delay in diagnosis. Treatment is surgical, with a good prognosis during follow-up.

Instituciones: Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola