Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma: clinical features and prognosis

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma is a kind of rare benign pulmonary tumor with potential malignancy. The clinical features, risk factors for prognosis, and optimal treatment have not been identified yet. This study aimed to investigate the clinical features and prognosis of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma. METHODS: We retrospectively performed a review of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma patients in West China Hospital from 2009 to 2019. The basic characteristics, treatment regimens, operation detail, postoperative variables, and follow-up time were recorded for each case. Differences in features between patients undergoing lobectomy and segmentectomy were compared. We also performed a case review and summarized reported clinical features in former studies. RESULTS: Altogether 61 pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma patients were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-six patients were female and 5 were male. The patients’ median age was 51 (23-73). Seven (11.48%) patients had smoking history. Twenty tumors were located in the right lung [upper lobe (n = 7), middle (n = 2), and lower (n = 11)] and 41 in the left [upper (n = 12) and lower (n = 29)]. The median tumor size was 2 (0.9-7) cm. Thirty-six (59.02%) patients underwent sublobectomy (segmentectomy or wedge resection) whereas 25 (40.98%) underwent lobectomy. All patients recovered uneventfully, and no perioperative mortality was identified. Sublobectomy showed a trend towards reduced chest tube duration and shorter postoperative hospital stays compared with lobectomy. CONCLUSIONS: The findings showed good prognosis of pulmonary sclerosing pneumocytoma and proved its benign characteristics. Sublobectomy showed advanced efficacy regarding chest tube duration and postoperative hospital stay compared with lobectomy.