Pulmonary blastoma: One case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Pulmonary blastoma (PB) is a rare lung tumor composed of immature epithelial and/or mesenchymal tissues whose features may resemble early embryological pulmonary structure. PB most commonly manifested as a solitary parenchymal mass without predilection for any lobe on chest radiograph and CT. These radiologic features are nonspecific and many primary or metastatic tumors of the lung could be included in differential diagnosis. The terms pulmonary blastoma and pleuropulmonary blastoma have been used interchangeably in previously reported cases. The World Health Organization differentiates PB from pleuropulmonary blastoma. Well-differentiated fetal adenocarcinoma is now included as a histological variant of adenocarcinoma and should not be regarded as a “monophasic” PB. To make a preoperative diagnosis of PB, It is important that multiple areas were sampled under CT-guided percutaneous lung biopsy with coaxial needle avoiding the necrosis area of lesion because the primitive blastematous cells that are diagnostic of PB may be localized rather than uniformly distributed. This report describes the case of a 19-year-old man with a PB treated by surgery. The pathology, clinical features, prognostic factors, and relevant problems in the treatment are reviewed.