Malignant Mesenchymoma of Pleura in Infancy

Abstract

THE term mesenchymoma is usually used to denote a rapidly growing, undifferentiated mesenchymal tumor offering a very poor prognosis. It is a common tumor in infancy. Its cells may be completely undifferentiated or in places may show varying types and degrees of cellular differentiation. Such a tumor, arising in the pleura, is the subject of this paper. No similar case has been found in the literature. Report of a Case A 3-month-old female infant was admitted to the Boston Floating Hospital with a history of hemothorax on the right. The infant had apparently been in good health until two days prior to admission. Heavy and rapid breathing suddenly developed and this was associated with expiratory grunting. There was an absence of breath sounds and there was dullness to percussion on the right. The temperature was 101 F (38.3 C). An x-ray film of the chest showed fluid in the right