Imaging, Histopathologic, and Treatment Nuances of Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma

• Published in: Case reports in radiology Vol. 2017; no. 2017; pp. 1 - 5
• Main Authors: Gleason, Tyler, Le, Brian, Haas, Michael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2017; Hindawi; Hindawi Limited; Wiley
• Subjects: Abdomen; Cancer metastasis; Cardiovascular disease; Case Report; Case reports; CAT scans; Chest; Computed tomography; Coronary artery disease; Coronary heart disease; Cough; Diabetes mellitus; Diagnostic imaging; Emergency medical care; Hospitals; Literature reviews; Lung diseases; Medical imaging; Metastasis; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Oncology; Patients; Radiation therapy; Sampling; Stem cells
• ISSN: 2090-6862; 2090-6870
• DOI: 10.1155/2017/8135957

A 76-year-old female with coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus type II, and 40 pack-year smoking history presented with a four-day history of cough, productive of green-yellow sputum. Chest X-ray revealed opacification of the left upper lung field, and computed tomography (CT) of the chest showed a large cavitary lesion invading the T2-T3 vertebral bodies, extending into the epidural space, giving rise to mild cord compression. Biopsy of the lesion revealed a poorly differentiated neoplasm composed of distinct epithelial and mesenchymal components, consistent with carcinosarcoma. A metastatic workup was negative. Primary lung carcinosarcoma is a rare tumour that can demonstrate an especially aggressive clinical course; diagnosis is often nuanced by limited sampling at initial presentation, especially in a setting of advanced disease and debility that precludes consideration for upfront resection or more extensive, invasive sampling.