Pulmonary leiomyosarcoma extending into left atrium or pulmonary trunk: complete resection with cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract

Primary pulmonary leiomyosarcoma is a rare tumor. Few cases have been treated surgically because of its rapid invasion into the pulmonary trunk or heart and tendency toward massive intrapulmonary metastases. We report the cases of two patients with leiomyosarcoma originating in a pulmonary artery or vein that involved the pulmonary trunk or left atrium, both of whom underwent complete surgical resection with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Since their operations, these patients have shown no evidence of recurrent tumor. PATIENT 1. A 72-year-old woman with persistent cough, chest pain, and hemoptysis was referred to our hospital for evaluation and treatment of presumed pulmonary thromboembolism. An angiogram revealed filling defects in the pulmonary trunk, absence of filling of the left main pulmonary artery, and decreased arterial filling in the left lung. A biopsy specimen was obtained from a tumor in the left main pulmonary artery by means of a suction catheter, and the pathologic diagnosis of sarcoma was made. Computed tomography disclosed a mass occluding the left main pulmonary artery and densely filling pulmonary artery branches. Median sternotomy was performed and CPB was applied. The left pulmonary veins were ligated and the left main pulmonary artery was incised. A large tumor completely filled the left main pulmonary artery. Extension of the incision into the pulmonary trunk disclosed that the tumor invaded its wall laterally on the left. The portion of tumor located in the left main pulmonary artery and pulmonary trunk, including the left main pulmonary artery and the left lateral wall of the trunk, was excised. Direct suture closure of the pulmonary trunk was carried out and CPB was terminated. The left main bronchus was transected and left pneumonectomy was completed. Fig. 1 shows the resected left lung and pulmonary artery. Tumor in the main pulmonary artery extended intraluminally into its branches. The tumor was diagnosed histologically with the aid of immunohistochemical stainFrom the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Mie University, School of Medicine, Tsu, Japan.