[Surgical Treatment of Pseudotumours of the Lung]

Pseudotumour of the lung is a collective term for various subentities. Some subgroups are considered to be intermediary malignant tumours. A pseudotumour is a rare condition, which makes it difficult to estimate its incidence and prevalence.

Retrospective analysis of all surgically treated patients between 2008 and 2015 diagnosed with a pseudotumour of the lung. The primary endpoint of this study was to estimate the rates of local recurrence and metastasis. Secondary endpoints were to determine the nomenclature, medical history, treatment, and the perioperative course.

Out of 27 patients (10 females and 17 males) with a median age of 58 years, 19 patients (70%) had an inflammatory pseudotumour (IPT), and four patients (15%) had an inflammatory myofibroblastoma (IMT). Two patients had a pneumocytoma/histiocytoma. A preoperative pulmonary infection was present in 12 (44%) patients. The average tumour size was 2.1 cm (0.8 - 5.3 cm), with the lower pulmonary lobes being mostly affected (52%). One enucleation, 20 atypical wedge resections and six anatomical resections were performed. This was done in a minimally invasive procedure (VATS) in 48% of cases (13/27). R0 resection was achieved in 93% of cases (25/27). Complications occurred in seven (26%) patients. The difference between the duration of hospital stay (mean duration 8 days) after open resection and VATS was minimal (8.8 vs. 7.2 days). Patients were followed up over a period of 4 years, during which time only one patient developed a tumour recurrence, which led to the patient's death, although she had had a R0 resection of an IMT.

The treatment of choice for pseudotumours of the lung is R0 resection, preferably with VATS. Most patients have a benign course of disease, although relapses are possible in some cases, especially in IMT. Follow-up monitoring is necessary for IMT. The application of a uniform nomenclature and classification would be a sensible approach.