Mucoepidermoid carcinoma: A case reportDaniela Kraljević MD, PhD 1 / Ante Damjanović MD1 / Tamara Nikše MD 1 / Ivan Pavić MD, PhD 2 / Iva Mihatov Štefanović MD, PhD3 / Josip Pejić MD41 UCH Mostar, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Pulmonology and Alergology2 Children’s Hospital Zagreb, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology, Immunology and Rheumatology3 CHC „Sestre Milosrdnice“ Zagreb, Pediatric Clinic, Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes, Pulmonology and Allergology4 CH Dubrava, Surgery Clinic, Department for thoracic surgeryCorrenspondence: Ante Damjanović, MD, UCH Mostar, Pediatric Clinic, Department of pulmonology and alergology, Bijeli Brijeg, 88 000, Mostar, Bosnia and HerzegovinaEmail: [email protected] pulmonology, cancer, lungs1 INTRODUCTIONPrimary lung neoplasms in children are rare. A significantly larger number of lung neoplasms are secondary neoplasms, mostly metastases from some other primary tumor process.1 Primary lung tumors in children, although rare, are mostly malignant (75% of cases). Carcinoids account for 40% of these tumors, bronchogenic carcinomas for 17% of cases, and pleuropulmonary blastomas for about 15% of cases.2 Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most common type of salivary gland carcinoma in the adult population. It can also be found in the bronchi and in the thyroid gland. It is not frequently found in the lungs, especially in children, where it constitutes approximately 0.1-0.2% of all primary lung tumors.3It originates from glandular tissue identical to that of the salivary glands, which is located in the submucosa of the trachea and bronchi.4 We will present a rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the right bronchus in a six-year-old girl who was hospitalized due to right-sided pneumonia and pleural effusion.2 CASE PRESENTATIONA six-year-old patient was referred to our clinic due to an elevated body temperature, shivering, and vomiting. Laboratory diagnostics were performed at the local Health Center (CRP 338 mg/L, WBC 18.8 x 10^9/L (neutrophils 78%)), along with a chest X-ray, which revealed right-sided pneumonia with pleural effusion. The patient had previously experienced chickenpox seven months ago and had two episodes of pneumonia since, which were treated on an outpatient basis.The clinical examination of the patient revealed the following: Subfebrile temperature (37.8°C), tachycardia (118/min); reduced breath sounds on auscultation over the right lung, with no breath sounds heard at the base. Additional radiological assessment (ultrasound of the lung base) confirmed the presence of pleural effusion.Parenteral (ceftriaxone, clindamycin) and oral (azithromycin) antimicrobial therapy was prescribed, and a pediatric surgeon was consulted. There was no indication for pleural drainage.The patient responded positively to the prescribed therapy, becoming afebrile on the fifth day of hospitalization. Follow-up X-rays showed partial regression of the previously described inflammatory changes, and a follow-up ultrasound confirmed the regression of pleural effusion. The girl was discharged for home treatment with continued oral antimicrobial therapy (cefpodoxime), with a scheduled follow-up appointment at the clinic.