Abstract:
Objective: : To study the clinical and histopathologic characteristics of pulmonary blastoma (PB) and to discuss the diagnostic criteria and the corresponding therapies.
Methods : Data from 15 cases of PB seen in ourhospital between 1990 and 2006 were reviewed.
Results : All patients underwent surgery. Nine patients received lobectomy, 2 patients had bilateral lobectomy, 1 patient underwent lobectomy and bronchus figuration,1 patient received segment resection, 1 patient had lobectomy and angioplasty, and 1 patient had resection ofthe whole lung. Before surgery, 11 cases were diagnosed as lung cancer, 2 cases were suspected of being benign lung tumor, 1 case was suspected as lobus intermedius malignant tumor and only 1 case was accuratelydiagnosed as PB. Immunohistochemistry showed that CK and EMA were positive in 6 cases, Vim was positive in 5 cases, and S100 was positive in 1 case.
Conclusion : As a highly malignant tumor with poor prognosis,PB has a high rate of recurrence and metastasis. PB contains primitive epithelial components and mesenchymal stroma, making the tumor appear similar to well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma. Preoperative diagnosis of PB is very difficult. Clinical manifestations, morphological characteristics and immunohistochemical presentation provide important information. The main treatment for PB is surgery consisting of lobectomy and dissection of diaphragm lymph nodes. Thorough resection is paramount.