Background:
Primary pulmonary sarcoma is a rare malignancy accounting for less than 0.5% of all
pulmonary tumors. Few outcome data are reported. The aim of this study is to evaluate
outcome and prognostic factors in patients with primary pulmonary sarcoma that were
surgically treated with a curative intent multimodality therapy concept.
Material and Methods:
We retrospectively reviewed all patients who underwent resection for primary pulmonary
sarcoma in our center from 2002 to 2018. Survival was calculated from the date of
surgery until last follow-up. The impact on survival of the following variables was
assessed: gender, type of lung resection, completeness of resection, histology, tumor
grade, tumor size, response to neoadjuvant therapy, TNM stages for soft tissue sarcoma
and for non-small cell lung cancer.
Results:
Thirteen patients (7 females, 54%) with a median age of 56 (21 – 79) were included.
Histology was synovial sarcoma (n = 4, 31%), pleomorphic sarcoma (n = 2, 15%), malignant
schwannoma (n = 2, 15%), sarcoma not otherwise specified (n = 2, 15%), ewing sarcoma
(n = 1, 8%), leiomyosarcoma (n = 1, 8%) and liposarcoma (n = 1, 8%). Eight (62%) patients
received neoadjuvant treatment. Median tumor size at diagnosis was 11.5 cm (1 – 30
cm). Type of lung resection were atypical lung resection (n = 2, 15%), lobectomy (n
= 4, 31%), intrapericardial pneumonectomy (n = 3, 23%) and extrapleural pneumonectomy
(n = 4, 31%). Minor postoperative complications occurred in eight patients (62%).
In-hospital mortality was 8%. Overall 5-year survival was 60%. Median follow up was
46 months. Median disease-free survival was 17 months. Cox regression analysis identified
tumor size as a predictor for survival (p = 0.023) and recurrence (p = 0.050). Univariate
analysis identified gender (p = 0.004) and type of lung resection (p = 0.004) as predictor
of survival while TNM stage for soft tissue sarcoma was a predictor for recurrence
(p = 0.025).
Conclusion:
Surgical resection within a multimodality therapy concept in highly selected patients
with primary pulmonary sarcoma can offer good long-term outcome.