Pulmonary artery sarcoma presenting as an isolated lung mass

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Thoracic Oncology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Pulmonary artery sarcoma is an exceptionally rare malignancy.
• It often presents insidiously, posing diagnostic challenges.

Observation:

• A 54-year-old male presented with a persistent dry cough and an isolated left lower lobe lung mass on CT.
• Initial surgical management involved left lower lobectomy for suspected primary lung cancer.

Findings:

• Histopathological diagnosis confirmed the resected mass as pulmonary artery sarcoma.
• Postoperative imaging revealed missed, proximal tumor involvement in the pulmonary trunk and right pulmonary artery, present pre-operatively.

Implications:

• This case underscores the critical need for comprehensive vascular imaging in suspected pulmonary artery sarcomas.
• Accurate assessment of tumor extent, including intraluminal involvement, is vital for planning curative-intent surgical resections.