Prognostic Analysis of Primary Pulmonary Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors Treated Surgically

BACKGROUND: Primary pulmonary malignant mesenchymal tumors are rare, constituting only 0.4% of all lung cancers. Since sarcomas are chemo/radio-resistant, surgical resection is the optimal treatment choice for patients with suitable medical conditions and tumor stage. In the present study, we analyzed the surgical outcomes and survival of primary pulmonary malignant mesenchymal tumors treated surgically. METHODS: We retrospectively examined the records of patients with primary pulmonary malignant mesenchymal tumors who underwent surgical resection at our department between January 2010 and December 2020. Patient data were analyzed according to age, sex, tumor grade and stage, resection completeness, surgical type, and tumor histopathology. RESULTS: Twenty patients were included in the study. There were 13 men (65%) and 7 women (35%). The median survival rate was 36 months (range, 19–53 months), and the 5-year overall survival rate was 37%. Unfavorable prognostic factors for overall survival included parietal pleural invasion (p=0.02), high tumor grade (p=0.02), advanced tumor stage (p=0.02), and extensive parenchymal resection (pneumonectomy and bilobectomy, p=0.01). The median length of disease-free survival was 31 months (interquartile range, 21–41 months), and the 5-year disease-free survival rate was 32%. The most unfavorable prognostic factors for recurrence were parietal pleural invasion (p=0.02), high tumor grade (p=0.01), and tumors requiring lung resection with chest wall resection (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Primary malignant mesenchymal lung tumors are aggressive and have a high mortality rate. However, acceptable overall and disease-free survival rates can be obtained with surgical therapy.