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Updated: Jun 8, 2026
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Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
A resected case of pulmonary carcinosarcoma
Taichiro Goto1, Arafumi Maeshima, Atsushi Tajima
1Department of General Thoracic Surgery, National Hospital Organization, Tokyo Medical Center, Tokyo, Japan.
Summary
This case report details a rare lung carcinosarcoma in a 78-year-old male smoker. Despite surgical treatment for stage IB lung cancer, the patient experienced rapid metastasis and succumbed to respiratory failure.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.
- Squamous cell carcinoma is a common subtype, often linked to smoking history.
- Carcinosarcoma is an exceptionally rare biphasic tumor of the lung.
Observation:
- A 78-year-old male smoker presented with a right lower lung mass detected on chest X-ray.
- Initial diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma, leading to right lower lobectomy and lymph node dissection.
- Gross and histopathological examination revealed a unique tumor with spindle cells, squamous elements, cartilage, and bone.
Findings:
- The resected tumor, measuring 8 cm, was definitively diagnosed as lung carcinosarcoma (pT2N0M0, stage IB).
- Histopathology confirmed a biphasic nature with both sarcomatous (spindle cells with cartilage/bone) and carcinomatous (squamous cell carcinoma) differentiation.
- The patient experienced rapid progression with intrapulmonary metastases within 5 months post-surgery.
Implications:
- This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and aggressive nature of lung carcinosarcoma.
- Early detection and aggressive surgical management may be crucial, but prognosis remains poor due to high metastatic potential.
- Further research into the pathogenesis and optimal treatment strategies for this rare entity is warranted.
