Mucinous epidermoid carcinoma of the lung with ALK mutation: Case report and literature review

Abstract

Rationale: Pulmonary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (PMEC) is a rare lung malignancy, especially in combination with ALK mutations, whose clinical presentation lacks specificity and for which there are no standardized treatment guidelines. Patient concerns: We report a case of a patient with PMEC-predominant primary lung cancer combined with an ALK mutation. Diagnoses: One patient was diagnosed with PMEC combined with ALK mutation. Interventions: After diagnosis by puncture pathology, the patient was treated with oral targeted drugs. Outcomes: The patient’s cough and fever were controlled, her diet improved significantly, and she gained 20 pounds in 6 months. During this period, the primary and metastatic foci in the lungs were significantly reduced on repeat chest CT. Conclusion: PMEC combined with ALK mutation is an extremely rare primary lung cancer, and the diagnosis is mainly based on pathology, histology and immunohistochemistry. The application of molecularly targeted drugs to patients with mutations can significantly improve the prognosis of patients with PMEC, which is expected to be a new breakthrough in the treatment of PMEC.