Adult pulmonary blastoma: Report of an unusual malignant lung tumor

Abstract

Pulmonary blastoma is an uncommon lung malignancy, usually presenting itself as a large chest mass causing pain, hemoptysis, cough and dyspnea; however, it is asymptomatic in up to 40% of patients. We present the case and suggestive images of a 37-year-old non-smoking lady with a monophasic pulmonary blastoma located in the lower lobe of the left lung who underwent a left posterolateral thoracotomy with lower lobectomy, hilar and mediastinal node dissection, followed by chemo and radiation therapy. After 36 mo, there is no disease progression and the patient is in good health, clinically stable and without significant chest pain.

Core tip: Pulmonary blastoma is a rare condition and diagnosis may be difficult to obtain. It is important to underline that the appropriate management of this unusual type of lesion can be achieved only by a multidisciplinary specialized team, able to plan the correct integrated strategy based on aggressive surgery and chemo-radiation therapy.

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary blastoma is an unusual lung malignancy, constituting about 0.5% of all lung tumors[1-4]. Its histology resembles lung fetal tissue and can express both epithelial and mesenchymal features. Despite its assumed embryonal origin, the tumor predominantly affects adults[3]. The literature reports a limited number of cases classified as adult type pulmonary blastoma or child pleuropulmonary blastoma[5-8].

In adults, the neoplasm generally presents itself as a large and symptomatic mass causing cough, hemoptysis, fever and chest pain.

CASE REPORT

A 37-year-old non-smoking lady was admitted to the hospital with persistent chest pain, fever and hemoptysis. The chest X-ray showed a gross opacity in the left basal pulmonary field which was first suspected to be empyema complicating a pulmonary infection.

The computed tomography scan (CT scan) revealed the presence of a ten centimeter neoplasm located in the left basal hemithorax. Bronchoscopy showed neoplastic well vascularized vegetation occluding the left lower bronchus and histology through the biopsy permitted diagnosis of a monophasic pulmonary blastoma or the so called fetal adenocarcinoma. The immunohistochemistry obtained by fine needle aspiration biopsy of the lesion under CT scan guidance confirmed the rare lung tumor.

The stage was completed by a CT/positron emission tomography scan (CT/PET), showing an abnormal 18F-FDG uptake limited to the round mass with an elevated SUV of 13, a specific feature of this type of blastoma[1,9]. There was no evidence of other pathological localizations, confirming that the disease was enclosed in the left lung (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Computed tomography/positron emission tomography scan. A: CT-PET scan showing the large round mass in the left basal hemithorax; B: CT-PET scan showing a frontal vision of the mass inside the chest. CT-PET: Computed tomography/positron emission tomography.

Pre-operative work-up showed no contraindications so the patient underwent surgery. We performed a left posterolateral thoracotomy with lower lobectomy and hilar and mediastinal node dissection (Figure 2).

Figure 2.

A left posterolateral thoracotomy with lower lobectomy. A: Macroscopic vision of the large tumor infiltrating the left lower lobe; B: The cutting surface of the large tumor inside the left lower lobe.

The postoperative course was uneventful, the drains were removed three days after surgery and the patient was discharged three days later.

Definitive histology confirmed a pT3, pN2, M0 malignant monophasic pulmonary blastoma with only one metastatic mediastinal lymph node (Figure 3). The bronchial stump and the multiple specimens taken on the parietal and mediastinal pleura were negative.

Figure 3.

Monophasic pulmonary blastoma. A: Microscopic appearance of cytology in monophasic pulmonary blastoma; B: Monophasic pulmonary blastoma: Prevalence of epithelial on mesenchymal elements.

A month later the patient was evaluated by our interdisciplinary team and was considered eligible for adjuvant chemo and radiation therapy.

Follow-up at 6, 12, 24 and 36 mo revealed no disease progression on PET/CT scan, with a serum decrease of oncological markers. The patient is now in good health, clinically stable and without significant chest pain.

DISCUSSION

Pulmonary blastoma is a rare neoplasm with distinctive biological behavior[4]. It was described for the first time in 1952 by Barnard as an “embryoma” and in 1961 was regularly classified by Spencer who established that the tumor arises from pulmonary blastema as tumors developed from fetal tissues[5,10].

The neoplasm was divided by Koss et al[11] into three groups: biphasic pulmonary blastoma, monophasic pulmonary blastoma with prevalent epithelial expression, and pleuropulmonary blastoma with mesenchymal expression[2,5,10,11].

In adults, the tumor presents itself as a large chest mass causing pain, hemoptysis, cough and dyspnea; however, up to 40% of patients may be asymptomatic[4]. Diagnosis may be difficult to obtain because of the unusual pleomorphic histology but it has to be suspected when there is cytological evidence of heterogeneity with epithelial and mesenchymal malignant cells[12-14]. The radiological appearance consists of a well-delimited circle mass ranging in size from 1.5 to 13 cm in diameter.

Surgical excision is the treatment of choice[4,15]. The prognosis reported in the literature is generally poor, with limited survival within 2-3 years from diagnosis. The difference in survival rate depends on mediastinal node involvement and over the last ten years a better prognosis has been shown with preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy[14,16].

In a case of N2 disease, postoperative adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy based on cisplatin and etoposide are considered the treatments of choice[14,17,18].

In conclusion, adult pulmonary blastoma is an unusual lung tumor presenting itself as a large invasive mass. Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up have to be planned by a multidisciplinary team. Integrated strategy based on aggressive surgery and chemo-radiation therapy may be the best choice for a successful treatment.

COMMENTS

Case characteristics

A 37-year-old non-smoking lady with persistent chest pain, fever and hemoptysis.

Clinical diagnosis

A ten centimeter neoplasm located in the left basal hemithorax.

Differential diagnosis

Empyema complicating a pulmonary infection.

Imaging diagnosis

A well-delimited circle mass ranging in size from 1.5 to 13 cm in diameter.

Pathological diagnosis

pT3, pN2, M0 monophasic pulmonary blastoma with one metastatic mediastinal lymph node.

Treatment

Left posterolateral thoracotomy with lower lobectomy and hilar and mediastinal node dissection followed by chemo and radiation therapy.

Related reports

The rare presentation of pulmonary blastoma can make obtaining a diagnosis difficult, so a meticulous evaluation by a multidisciplinary team is mandatory in suspected cases.

Experience and lessons

Pulmonary blastoma is a rare condition that has to be managed by a multidisciplinary team to plan the correct integrated strategy based on aggressive surgery and chemo-radiation therapy.

Peer review

This is a report of a rare case of a malignant lung tumor. The presentation is simple but adequate.