Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma: a rare neoplasm.

Primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma is an extremely rare tumor with an unknown cause. The diagnosis is established after other primary lung malignancies or metastatic extrathoracic sarcoma have been excluded. We report the case of a 69-year-old man who presented with a well-defined mass in the right upper lobe on a chest X-ray. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) right upper lobectomy was performed. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic cells were positive for vimentin, CD56 and Bcl-2, and focally positive for CD99, epithelial membrane antigen and cytokeratin 7 and 19. The cytogenetic study revealed a SYT genetic reassortment. So, the final pathological diagnosis was primary pulmonary synovial sarcoma.

Thoracic liposarcoma: resection and chest wall reconstruction.

Liposarcoma is a malignant neoplasm of mesodermal origin derived from adipose tissue. It most often originates in the extremities and retroperitoneum, and less frequently in the head and neck. Liposarcoma involving the chest wall is extremely rare with few reported cases. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment, and complete resection is the major factor influencing survival. We describe the case of a 65-year-old man diagnosed with a dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the chest wall, who underwent radical resection and chest wall reconstruction with a latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap.

Epithelioid angiosarcoma of the lung with pleural metastases: a rare cause of haemoptysis clinicopathological conference.

Angiosarcomas are a rare type of malignant vascular tumour characterised by proliferation of tumour cells with vascular endothelial features. These tumours are usually very aggressive and overall mortality is very high. Pulmonary angiosarcomas are usually secondary tumours, and only a few primary cases have been reported. We present a case of a 56 year-old male with persistent haemoptysis secondary to lung epithelioid angiosarcoma with pleural metastases.

Extraction of airway foreign bodies in adults: experience from 1987-2008.

To determine the incidence and the clinical, radiographic, and endoscopic characteristics of adult patients in our area diagnosed with tracheobronchial foreign bodies (FBs), we have performed a descriptive retrospective study analysing rigid and flexible bronchoscopies practised at our department between 1987 and 2008 in patients older than 14 years. Of the 9781 bronchoscopies performed, 32 involved cases of bronchoaspiration of FBs. The mean age of the patients was 43.81 years (S.D. 21.43); 65.6% were male and 34.4% were female. Acute or recurrent infection was the most frequent clinical presentation. Chest radiographs provided data for diagnosis in 68% of the cases. The most common FB aspirated were inorganic (pins and plastic devices 21.4%, respectively). In conclusion, we can state that in our area tracheobronchial aspiration of FBs by adults is not common. The clinical symptoms are highly variable and the FBs are usually lodged in the right bronchial tree.