SURGICAL RESECTION OF MUCOEPIDERMOID CARCINOMA AT THE CARINA IN A 9-YEAR-OLD BOY

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of trachea and bronchi is a rare tumor, espec ially in children. The authors report a case of 9-year-old boy with mu coepidermoid carcinoma at the carina. His presenting symptoms were hem optysis of recent onset and intermittent cough of 2 years' duration. P reoperative assessment of the tumor was an intraluminal polypoid mass arising from the carina extending into the trachea and right main stem bronchus. A complete resection with reconstruction of carina was succ essful. The tumor was 12 mm in size, polypoid with a broad base, it ha d characteristic features of a low-grade mucoepidermoid tumor, namely, admixture of islands of intermediate cells and glandular components w ith invasion of submucosa. The patient is now 15 months postsurgery fr ee of disease. Copyright (C) 1998 by W.B. Saunders Company.