[Primary hemangiopericytoma of the lung (author's transl)]

Primary hemangiopericytoma of the lung is exceedingly rare. The following characteristics were found in a survey of the 34 cases published so far in the world literature and in one case of our own, a 29 year old man with this mesenchymal tumor. It does not show specific clinical signs. In radiographs an isolated round unidentifiable focus is seen. The differential diagnosis has to rely on the histology. About one half of these tumors are discovered by accident. It appears that it occurs at a somewhat younger age in men than in women. Both sexes are equally represented. The treatments of choice are either lobectomy or pneumonectomy. Patients with small tumors without clinical signs appear to have a better prognosis. When recurrence or metastases develop they will be noticed within a few months. Intensive follow-up of patients operated on is essential, since histology cannot provide safe criteria on which one could decide whether the tumor was benign or malignant.