Pulmonary blastoma: a comprehensive overview of a rare entity

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pulmonology
• Pathology

Background:

• Pulmonary blastoma is a rare lung malignancy (<0.5% of primary lung tumors).
• It is characterized by a biphasic pattern of epithelial and mesenchymal components.
• Also known as sarcomatoid carcinoma, only a few hundred cases are reported globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive literature review and critical assessment of pulmonary blastoma.
• To consolidate current knowledge on this rare lung cancer.

Main Methods:

• A narrative literature review was performed.
• The PubMed database was searched from its inception to January 2021.
• Keywords included "pulmonary blastoma", "biphasic pulmonary blastoma", and "sarcomatoid carcinoma" in English.

Main Results:

• Pulmonary blastoma exhibits both epithelial and mesenchymal malignant components.
• Diagnosis often occurs at a younger age, with many cases non-metastatic at presentation, allowing for surgical intervention.
• Clinical presentation is non-specific, with 40% of patients asymptomatic; immunohistochemistry aids diagnosis.

Conclusions:

• The precise origin of the biphasic cell population in pulmonary blastoma remains unclear.
• Management and survival data are limited, highlighting the need for multicenter collaboration.
• Advances in targeted therapy may offer future treatment avenues for this rare cancer.