[Myofibroblastic tumor of the lung: clinical features and results in 9 children]
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Updated: May 17, 2026
Thoracoscopic Extended Right Middle Plus Lower Sleeve Lobectomy for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer
Published on: February 27, 2026
C Giuseppucci1, M Boglione, M Cadario
1Servicio de Cirugía General, Hospital Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina. giuse26@gmail.com
Insights
Pediatric myofibroblastic lung tumors (MLT) are rare but treatable. Complete surgical resection is achievable, though complex procedures and multidisciplinary care are often necessary for successful outcomes in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Pathology
Context:
- Primary lung tumors in children are uncommon, with myofibroblastic lung tumors (MLT) being the most frequent.
- Existing literature on pediatric MLT is limited, primarily consisting of case reports.
Purpose:
- To report treatment outcomes for pediatric patients diagnosed with myofibroblastic lung tumors (MLT).
- To describe the clinical presentation, surgical management, and follow-up of children with MLT.
Summary:
- Nine pediatric patients with MLT were identified and treated.
- Common symptoms included fever, cough, and seizures.
- Complete surgical resection was achieved in 8 patients, with 3 requiring pneumonectomy (2 with right atrial resection and cerebral lesions).
- The mean follow-up was 2.8 years, with 66% of patients alive.
Impact:
- Highlights the feasibility of complete surgical resection for pediatric MLT.
- Emphasizes the potential need for complex surgical procedures and a multidisciplinary approach.
- Suggests further investigation into the metastatic potential of MLT is warranted.
Introduction:
Primary lung tumors in children are rare, being the myofibroblastic lung tumor (MLT) reported as the most common. Nevertheless the literature about it is scarce, and mostly consistent of case reports. The aim of this article is to describe the results obtained in a group of patients with this tumor treated in a tertiary pediatric hospital.
Methods:
A single institution retrospective chart review was performed with institutional review board approval. All patients treated between 1990 and 2010 with diagnosis of MLT were included. Age, symptoms at presentation, surgical procedures, complications, histopathology and follow-up were reviewed.
Results:
9 patients were identified. The commonest symptoms at presentation were fever and cough (n=6), and seizures (n=2). Surgical treatment consisted in complete resection in 8 patients and partial resection in 1. To achieve this 3 patients underwent pneumonectomy and 6 lobectomy. Two of the patients with pneumonectomy required also a partial resection of the right atrium and both had cerebral lesions. The mean follow-up was 2.8 years (r:0.16-12) and all the patients that remained in follow-up (66%) are alive at the moment.
Discussion:
Complete surgical resection in MLT is possible, however, to achieve this complex procedures and a multidisciplinary approach might be needed. Although the potential of distant metastasis is not clearly reported, we think that it is a topic that must be carefully revised.
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