Primary pulmonary sarcoma: a clinicopathologic study of 26 cases

Abstract

The clinical and pathologic features of 26 primary pulmonary sarcomas were analyzed. Fourteen patients were male and 12 were female; ranging in age from 18 to 75 years (mean, 48 yr). The tumors measured from 0.9 cm in greatest diameter to filling the entire hemithorax. Thirteen tumors were in the left lung and nine in the right lung; one was bilateral, two were in the pulmonary artery, and the location of one tumor was not available. The histologic diagnoses were malignant fibrous histiocytoma (7), synovial sarcoma (6), malignant peripheral-nerve sheath tumor (3), leiomyosarcoma (3), angiosarcoma (2), intimal sarcoma (2), fibrosarcoma (2), and one case of epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural examination supported these diagnoses. Morphologically, the differential diagnosis often included sarcomatoid carcinoma or desmoplastic malignant mesothelioma Patients were treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of these. Follow-up was available for 22 patients and ranged from 2 to 183 months (mean, 45 mo). Fourteen patients are free of disease, four died of disease, three are alive with disease, and one died of surgical complications. A variety of sarcomas, especially malignant fibrous histiocytoma and synovial sarcoma, arise within the pulmonary parenchyma. These tumors have the potential to behave aggressively but can be cured by resection, with or without adjuvant therapy. Immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy can be helpful in distinguishing primary pulmonary sarcoma from other tumors in the differential diagnosis.