Effusion-Dominant Pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma Without a Primary Mass: A Case Report

Sarcomatoid carcinoma is a rare, aggressive lung cancer subtype. It typically presents as a pulmonary or pleural mass. Effusion-dominant disease without an identifiable primary mass is exceptionally uncommon. We report a 59-year-old man presenting with dyspnoea, chest pain, and fever. Imaging showed right pleural effusion without a lung mass. Thoracoscopy revealed necrotic pleural nodules. Histology demonstrated spindle-shaped atypical cells, positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3 and weakly positive for TTF-1, but negative for mesothelial markers, consistent with sarcomatoid carcinoma of probable pulmonary origin. Staging CT revealed contralateral lung nodules, mediastinal lymphadenopathy, and distant metastases, but no dominant primary lesion. The patient declined systemic therapy and received palliative care. Sarcomatoid carcinoma presenting as malignant pleural effusion without a mass is rare. Early thoracoscopy and histological confirmation are crucial. Prognosis remains poor, though emerging data suggest a role for immunotherapy.