Separation of mucoepidermoid carcinoma from adenocarcinoma can be diffiicult especially in small biopsy specimens since the mixture of squamous and intermediate cells may be overlooked. Adenoid cystic carcinomas consist primarily of tubules and glands frequently with a prominent hyalinized stroma. They do not show a mixture of squamous and intermediate cells. Patients with low grade mucoepidermoid carcinomas generally have an excellent prognosis. Cutaneous and intracranial metastases.
Therapy involves surgical resection and when necessary radiation therapy.
Median survival has been reported to be less than six months. It has been debated whether this data was based on inclusion of adenosquamous carcinomas. Peripheral mucoepidermoid tumour of the lung. Endobronchial polypoid adenocarcinoma of the lung. Histological and ultrastructural studies of five cases.