Pulmonary artery sarcoma mimicking a pulmonary artery aneurysm

Ann Thorac Surg. 2008 Oct;86(4):1354-5. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2008.04.005.

Abstract

Pulmonary artery sarcoma is an uncommon neoplasm, and its clinical and radiological presentation usually simulates chronic thromboembolic disease. We present the case of a 77-year-old woman admitted with dyspnea, chest pain, and hemoptysis. A chest computed tomographic scan showed moderate right-sided pleural effusion and a saccular dilatation of the interlobar portion of the right pulmonary artery, which was filled with contrast and surrounded by an irregular soft-tissue attenuation mass, suggesting a ruptured pulmonary artery aneurysm. The patient was operated on. Intraoperatively, a pseudoaneurysm and a solid mass were identified within the oblique fissure around the interlobar artery. Therefore, a right pneumonectomy was performed. Definitive pathologic examination was consistent with pulmonary artery sarcoma. The patient had a good outcome and is free of disease 2 years after surgery.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aneurysm, False / diagnosis*
  • Aneurysm, False / surgery
  • Biopsy, Needle
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Pneumonectomy / methods
  • Pulmonary Artery / pathology*
  • Risk Assessment
  • Sarcoma / diagnosis
  • Sarcoma / pathology*
  • Sarcoma / surgery
  • Thoracotomy / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vascular Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Vascular Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Vascular Neoplasms / surgery