title: Primary sarcomas of the lung: a clinicopathologic study of 12 cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chest physicians have a limited experience of primary pulmonary sarcomas, which represent a particular entity among rare intrathoracic neoplasms.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of medical records.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study patients with primary sarcomas of the lung diagnosed in our pathology department in order to define their clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 12 patients, with a mean age of 53 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The main symptoms were chest pain, and cough. Imaging findings consisted of: eight single peripheral opacities, three single parahilar opacities, and one lobar actelectasis. The histologic diagnoses confirmed in all cases by detailed immunohistochemical study were leiomyosarcoma (7), monophasic synovial sarcoma (2), one case each of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST), epithelioid sarcoma, and malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Thoracic surgery done in nine cases consisted of six lobectomies with further parietal resection in two cases, and three pneumonectomies. Four patients received chemotherapy and two patients had radiation therapy postoperatively. Follow up available on 12 patients ranged from 3 to 144 (mean 42) months. Long term survival up to 3 years was observed in five patients. Median overall survival was 48 months. Overall 5-year survival rate was 38%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary sarcomas of the lung are a rare and aggressive malignancy. Treatment and prognosis do not differ from other soft tissue sarcomas.
authors.affiliation: Hôpital Louis Pradel, BP Lyon Montchat, 69394 Lyon Cedex 03, France.
authors.forename: Bénédicte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Etienne-Mastroianni
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falchero
authors.forename: Lara
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chalabreysse
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Loire
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ranchère
authors.forename: Pierre Jean
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Souquet
authors.forename: Jean François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cordier
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome