Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma in an 18-year-old male patient: A case report and literature review

RATIONALE: Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma (PSP) is a rare benign tumor of the lung, mostly presented in Asian middle-aged women. Initially, it was considered as a vascular origin tumor, but then research evidence showed that it was derived from natural epithelial tissue. On imaging, this tumor may be found as a solitary well-circumscribed lung parenchymal lesion, and is often located in juxtapleural or juxtafissural positions. On histopathology, it consists of cuboidal surface cells and stromal round cells, both of which are positive for thyroid transcription factor-1. Here we report a case of a young PSP male patient and review the relevant literature in order to improve our understanding of this disease. PATIENT CONCERNS: An 18-year-old man was referred to our hospital after accidentally finding a lesion on chest X-ray. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showed a soft tissue mass with homogeneous enhancement in the left lower lobe posterior segment. DIAGNOSES: The diagnosis of PSPs was confirmed by histopathological examination. INTERVENTIONS AND OUTCOMES: The patient underwent a thoracoscopic wedge resection and was followed-up after that. One month later, he had good performance status with no recurrent tumors. LESSONS: PSP in a young man is really uncommon, and is confused with malignant tumors. A histopathological examination is considered as the diagnostic gold standard for this uncommon tumor. Surgery is the main treatment.