Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sarcoma is a rare malignant tumor in soft tissues. Resection is the preferred option to treat this tumor. The aim of this study is to explore the effect of interventional bronchoscopies in the treatment of pulmonary sarcoma if the patient is inoperable. METHODS: Sixteen cases with pulmonary sarcoma were retrospectively reviewed in our hospital from November 2008 to July 2014. The mean age was (53.1±5.4) years old. Rigid bronchoscopy was applied for the first procedure with general anesthesia, and electronic bronchoscopy was used for the second procedure or slight patients. RESULTS: Sixteen cases, which include 10 sarcomatoid carcinoma, 2 fibrosarcoma, 2 sarcoma, 1 fibromucoid sarcoma, and 1 spindle cell synovial sarcoma, were collected in this study. Eleven cases (68.8%) were peripheral and mainly located in the right upper lobe and left lower lobe. Five cases (31.2%) were central. Of these cases, 82% (9/11) were mixed and primary tumors in pulmonary tumor. Meanwhile, 56% (9/16) were intraluminal and 69% (11/16) were metastatic in central airway. All of the four cases with whole atelectasis were completely relieved through postbronchoscopic interventions. Three of the seven cases with segment atelectasis were completely reopened; two of them were partially relieved; and the remaining two had no response. The obstructive degree, Karnofsky performance status (KPS), and shortness of breathless score improved significantly after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional bronchoscopy could rapidly and efficiently remove endobronchial tumor, relieve airway obstruction, and improve clinical symptoms.