What question did this study set out to answer?

To discuss a rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma originating in the trachea of a teenage boy.

April 5, 2026

Child with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the trachea

Key Points

To discuss a rare case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma originating in the trachea of a teenage boy.
Patient presented with dry cough and haemoptysis.
Contrast-enhanced CT was used for imaging.
Initial biopsy identified a benign polyp.
Complete excision of the polyp was performed using electro-cautery snare.
Repeat histopathology confirmed low-grade mucoepidermoid carcinoma.
Surgical resection was required due to malignant findings.
The lesion caused near complete narrowing of the right main bronchus.
Complete surgical resection is associated with excellent prognosis.

Abstract

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma originates from the submucosal glands of the tracheobronchial tree. It is structurally homologous with exocrine salivary glands. It is a rare tumour, consisting of 0.1% to 0.2% of primary lung malignancies. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice and is associated with an excellent prognosis. Here we present a case where a boy in his teenage years came with a dry cough and haemoptysis. Contrast-enhanced CT confirmed the presence of a polypoidal enhancing space-occupying lesion arising from the right anterolateral aspect of the carina, protruding into the right main bronchus, causing near complete narrowing. The initial biopsy suggested a benign polyp, which led to complete excision of the polyp using an electro-cautery snare. The repeat histopathology suggested a low-grade muco-epidermoid carcinoma, which further required surgical sleeve resection of the distal trachea.

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