Open AccessMucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung with initial presentation of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia
Author(s) -
Yuan-Chun Huang,
Juan Chen,
Ching Hsueh,
Shang-Yun Ho,
Wei Cheng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of cancer research and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2589-0425
pISSN - 2311-3006
DOI - 10.1016/j.jcrpr.2017.07.002
Subject(s) - medicine , mucoepidermoid carcinoma , malignancy , microangiopathic hemolytic anemia , radiology , pathology , lung cancer , carcinoma , thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura , platelet
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a rare entity of lung malignancy that is subclassified into high-grade or low-grade types according to its histological features. High-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma is a more aggressive form of malignancy, with a tendency towards lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. Cancer-related microangiopathic hemolytic anemia as a less common situation of paraneoplastic syndrome may be encountered with metastatic malignancy, but has not been reported previously in mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the lung. Herein, we report a 78-year-old male patient who presented with hemoptysis for one day. Laboratory tests showed microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. A chest X-ray demonstrated consolidation in the left lung field. Chest computed tomography revealed a mass in the left upper lobe, and a subsequent bronchoscopic biopsy was performed. The histopathological results indicated a high-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. The patient refused systemic chemotherapy, and palliative radiation therapy only was conducted for local disease control. The patient has performed well for 12 months to date since diagnosis of the tumor