title: Critical presentation of pleuropulmonary blastoma.
abstract: We report two cases of critical presentation of a quite rare lung neoplasm of childhood. Presentation findings were at the extremes of the clinical pattern of this polymorphous neoplasm, ranging from an enormous solid mass causing airway compression and dislocation to an apparently benign cystic lesion discovered because of a tension pneumothorax. Both children were discharged from the pediatric intensive care unit and underwent appropriate surgical removal and oncological management. Congenital lung cysts, even asymptomatic, should not be underestimated and need elective surgical excision and histologic examination.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Catholic University Medical School, Largo Gemelli 8, 00168 Rome, Italy. marcomd@katamail.com
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piastra
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caresta
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Granone
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiaretti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Polidori
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Riccardi
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010994:Pleura / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D018202:Pulmonary Blastoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed