Clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes of pulmonary carcinosarcoma in eight patients

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary carcinosarcoma (PC) is a rare malignant tumour of the lung. Due to its rarity, few studies have been reported and its clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate clinical, radiological and pathological findings and treatment outcomes of patients with PC. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of the Pathology Department from the beginning of 2005 to the end of 2013. Results: The present study included eight cases with PC. All patients were male and their ages ranged from 56 to 77 years, with a mean age of 63.1 years. The most common radiological finding was a solitary mass, followed by atelectasis and mass. All patients underwent surgical resection, in the form of lobectomy (n = 6), bilobectomy inferior (n = 1) and pneumonectomy (n = 1). Pathological diagnosis of PC was made by surgical resection, in all patients. Pathologically, the epithelial component of the tumour was squamous cell carcinoma in four patients and adenocarcinoma in four patients. The most common sarcomatous component was spindle cell, followed by chondrosarcoma. Four patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Survival time for four of the patients was shorter than one year. The median survival time was 21.5 months (range: 1-75 months). Conclusions: Pulmonary carcinosarcoma of the lung is a rare biphasic tumour. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice. The prognosis of patients with PC is poor despite complete surgical resection and adjuvant chemotherapy.