Insights from literature of esophageal mucoepidermoid carcinoma in a female: A rare case report

BACKGROUND This case report enhances the medical literature by presenting a rare instance of primary esophageal mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC), highlighting its unique histological features and the challenges in diagnosis that can arise due to its similarities with other esophageal cancers. CASE SUMMARY A 58-year-old female presented with dysphagia and was initially misdiagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma. Upon further evaluation, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a 1.5 cm lesion in the distal esophagus. The patient underwent partial esophagectomy, and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of primary esophageal MEC with no lymph node metastasis. The patient has been under observation for 5 months post-surgery without adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION Awareness of MEC is essential for accurate diagnosis and management due to its rarity and potential for misdiagnosis.