Skull Metastasis as Initial Manifestation of Pulmonary Epithelial-Myoepithelial Carcinoma: A Case Report of an Unusual Case

• Main Authors: Masamitsu Nishihara, Naoya Takeda, Shoutarou Tatsumi, Keiji Kidoguchi, Shigeto Hayashi, Takashi Sasayama, Eiji Kohmura, Kimio Hashimoto
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2011-01-01
• Series: Case Reports in Oncological Medicine
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2011/610383

Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma (EMC) of the lung is rare and is considered to be low-grade malignancy. Intracranial metastasis of pulmonary EMC has not previously been reported according to our search of the literature. We report a case of skull metastasis as the initial manifestation of pulmonary EMC. An 81-year-old man complained of left leg motor weakness. Neurological examination showed left hemiparesis. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed an osteolytic tumor in the right frontal bone with invasion to the dura and subdural space, attached to the superior sagittal sinus. Subtotal removal of the tumor was performed, and the left hemiparesis showed improvement. Histopathological study revealed the tumor to consist of epithelial and myoepithelial cells. Pulmonary EMC was diagnosed. The MIB-1 index in primary lesion was approximately 10%. The skull and dura are possible sites for metastasis from pulmonary EMC. The MIB-1 index is a predictive marker of malignant potential.