Pulmonary artery sarcoma: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 12 cases

We report 12 cases of pulmonary artery sarcoma. The mean age at diagnosis was 48.4 years. Based on histomorphologic features and immunohistochemical findings, 2 tumors were classified as rhabdomyosarcoma, 4 as leiomyosarcoma, 1 as osteogenic sarcoma, 1 as angiosarcoma, and 4 as high-grade sarcoma. All patients underwent surgery. In addition, 7 patients received neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy. Five patients died 3 to 23 months after surgery. Three patients were still alive at 8, 27, and 68 months at last follow-up. Another 3 patients were alive at 2, 15, and 40 months and then lost to follow-up. The 2 patients with the longest survival (40 months and 68 months) had a diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma. Both patients with rhabdomyosarcoma died at 3 months after surgery. Pulmonary artery sarcoma is an uncommon entity with a poor prognosis. The role of early diagnosis, histologic classification, surgical treatment, and adjuvant therapy in patient outcome is discussed.