title: Surgical management of pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors: a single center experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumor (PIP) is a rare disease. It is still debated whether it represents an inflammatory lesion characterized by uncontrolled cell growth or a true neoplasm. PIP is characterized by a cellular polymorphism.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 8 patients with PIP treated by surgery between 2001 and 2009. Preoperative thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan was performed in all cases. All patients underwent preoperative bronchoscopy with washing and brushing and/or transbronchial biopsy and preoperative cytology examination
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 5 men and 3 women, aged between 38 and 69 years (mean of 58 years). 3 patients (37%) were asymptomatic. The others had symptoms characterized by chest pain, shortness of breath and persistent cough or hemoptysis. 5 patients had neutrophilic leucocytosis. CT scan demonstrated solitary nodules (maximum diameter<3 cm) in 5 patients (62%) and lung masses (maximum diameter>3 cm) in 3 patients (37%). In 2 patients there were signs of pleural infiltration. Distant lesions were excluded in all cases. A preoperative histology examination failed to reach a definitive diagnosis in all patients. At surgery, we performed two lobectomies, one segmentectomy and five wedge resections, these being performed with videothoracoscopy (VATS), except for one patient where open surgery was used. Complete tumor resection was obtained in all patients. According to the Matsubara classification, there were 2 cases of organizing pneumonia, 5 cases of fibrous histiocytoma and one case of lymphoplasmacytoma. All patients were discharged alive from hospital between 4 and 7 days after surgery. At follow-up CT scan performed annually (range 11 to 112 months) (mean 58 months), there were no residual lesions, neither local nor distant recurrences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PIP is a rare disease. Many synonyms have been used for this disease, usually in relation to the most represented cell type. The true incidence is unclear. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult to reach, despite performing a bronchoscopy or a transparietal needle aspiration. Different classifications have been proposed for PIP. Either medical, radiation or surgical therapy has been used for PIP. Whenever possible, surgery should be considered the standard treatment. Complete surgical resection is advocated to prevent recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Cardiovascular and Thoracic Department, Policlinic University Hospital, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Baldassare
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mondello
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lentini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barresi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Familiari
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: La Rocca
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sibilio
authors.forename: Ignazio Eduardo
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Acri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monaco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016726:Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D011013:Pneumonectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome