[Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung: retrospective study of 28 cases].
BACKGROUND
Sarcomatoid carcinoma (SC) of the lung is defined by the World Health Organization as poorly differentiated non-small cell carcinoma that contains a component of sarcoma or sarcoma-like elements. It represents an overall continuum of epithelial and mesenchymal differentiation. Five subtypes are recognized: pleomorphic carcinoma, spindle cell carcinoma, giant cell carcinoma, carcinosarcoma, and pulmonary blastoma. The diagnosis is pathological and requires a good sampling of the tumor.


METHODS
Twenty-eight cases of primary sarcomatoid carcinoma, diagnosed between 1993 and 2010, were reviewed retrospectively, noting the clinicopathological characteristics.


RESULTS
The patient population consisted of 25 males and 3 females with mean age of 62.9 years (48-75 years). The symptomatology was dominated by respiratory symptoms. Imaging features showed a pulmonary mass invading pleura or thoracic wall in 5 cases. The diagnosis was made in all cases on histological examination. These 28 tumors were divided as below: into 19 pleomorphic carcinomas, 4 giant cell carcinomas, 1 spindle cell carcinoma and 4 carcinosarcomas. Twenty-seven tumors were treated surgically. Associated treatments were neoadjuvant (3 cases) or adjuvant chemotherapy (1 case) and preoperative radiotherapy (5 cases). Deaths occurred in 7 patients. Twenty-two patients were lost to follow up.


CONCLUSIONS
These tumors are frequently symptomatic, are locally advanced, and have higher rates of recurrence. Its prognosis is worse than that of other non-small cell lung cancer.
Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Abderrahman Mami, Ariana, Tunisie. Electronic address: alia.zehanikassar@yahoo.fr.
Alia
A
Zehani
Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Abderrahman Mami, Ariana, Tunisie.
Aïda
A
Ayadi-Kaddour
Service de chirurgie thoracique, hôpital Abderrahman Mami, Ariana, Tunisie.
Adel
A
Marghli
Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Abderrahman Mami, Ariana, Tunisie.
Hela
H
Maamouri
Service de dermatologie, hôpital Mahmoud Matri, Ariana, Tunisie.
Lamia
L
Kassar
Service de chirurgie thoracique, hôpital Abderrahman Mami, Ariana, Tunisie.
Tarek
T
Kilani
Service d'anatomie et de cytologie pathologiques, hôpital Abderrahman Mami, Ariana, Tunisie.
Faouzi
F
El Mezni
D000368:Aged; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology
Carcinome sarcomatoïde; Chirurgie; Lung; Malignant tumors; Poumon; Prognosis; Pronostic; Sarcomatoid carcinoma; Surgery; Tumeur maligne