[Pleuro-pulmonary blastoma. Report of 4 cases]

Pleuropulmonary blastoma is an uncommon malignant lung tumor observed in children. Outcome is often unfavorable. Two boys and two girls, mean age 4.5 years, were admitted for nonspecific respiratory signs. Oriented by radiology findings, the diagnosis of pleuropulmonary blastoma was confirmed at pathology examination of a pneumonectomy specimen. Three of the children were given postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. There were three deaths and one child was lost to follow-up. We discuss the clinical features of pleuropulmonary blastoma. No optimal treatment has been defined for this often fatal tumor.