Pulmonary artery sarcoma mimicking chronic thromboembolic disease: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings

Imaging-Guided Percutaneous Endovascular Biopsy Applied in Patients with Pulmonary Artery Masses: A Review

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary artery (PA) masses are rare. Distinguishing PA tumours from embolism is sometimes difficult, and surgical biopsy is expensive and risky. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of imaging-guided percutaneous endovascular biopsy (PEB) for obtaining tissues for histological diagnosis.

METHODS

We searched Cochrane, Medline, Embase, and Web of Science for PEB trials involving patients with PA masses, published from the inception of the database until August 2023.

RESULTS

We retrospectively reviewed 33 studies including 87 patients (median age 55 ± 69.3 years, 44 men) with PA masses who underwent a total of 110 PEBs. Of these patients, 34.5% (n = 38) underwent PEB-catheter aspiration (PEB-CA), 50.9% (n = 56) underwent PEB-forceps biopsy (PEB-FB) and 2.7% (n = 3) underwent PEB-directional atherectomy (PEB-DA). The most common histological aetiology of PA masses was mesenchymal tumours (n = 67, 75.9%). Tumour embolism (n = 6, 6.9%) and pulmonary embolism (n = 3, 3.4%) were the second and third most common types of PA masses, respectively. The technical success rates of PEB-CA, PEB-FB and PEB-DA were 92.1%, 94.6% and 100% (p = 0.796), respectively. Histopathological analysis provided clinical diagnostic success rates of 44.7%, 85.7% and 100% for PEB-CA, PEB-FB and PEB-DA (p < 0.001), respectively. In pairwise comparison, PEB-FB had a higher success rate in pathological diagnosis than PEB-CA (p = 0.000). Apart from one patient suffering from haemorrhagic cardiac tamponade, no other complications occurred.

CONCLUSION

Imaging-guided PEB is a safe and effective technique for the early pathological diagnosis of PA masses.

Primary Pulmonary Artery Leiomyosarcoma with Pulmonary Metastasis Depicted on Enhanced Computer Tomography: A Case Description and an Analysis of the Literature

Pulmonary artery leiomyosarcoma is an extremely rare disease, with only a few dozen cases reported worldwide to date. This disease is easily misdiagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism, leading to improper treatment and accurate diagnosis in the later stages of the disease. Furthermore, this delayed diagnosis may also be the reason for the extremely high mortality rate of patients suffering from it. Early invasive surgery with the goal of complete surgical resection is the standard treatment method. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been tried with variable outcomes.

Optimizing the diagnosis and assessment of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension with advancing imaging modalities

Imaging is key to nearly all aspects of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension including management for screening, assessing eligibility for pulmonary endarterectomy, and post-operative follow-up. While ventilation/perfusion scintigraphy, the gold standard technique for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension screening, can have excellent sensitivity, it can be confounded by other etiologies of pulmonary malperfusion, and does not provide structural information to guide operability assessment. Conventional computed tomography pulmonary angiography has high specificity, though findings of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension can be visually subtle and unrecognized. In addition, computed tomography pulmonary angiography can provide morphologic information to aid in pre-operative workup and assessment of other structural abnormalities. Advances in computed tomography imaging techniques, including dual-energy computed tomography and spectral-detector computed tomography, allow for improved sensitivity and specificity in detecting chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, comparable to that of ventilation/perfusion scans. Furthermore, these advanced computed tomography techniques, compared with conventional computed tomography, provide additional physiologic data from perfused blood volume maps and improved resolution to better visualize distal chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, an important consideration for balloon pulmonary angioplasty for inoperable patients. Electrocardiogram-synchronized techniques in electrocardiogram-gated computed tomography can also show further information regarding right ventricular function and structure. While the standard of care in the workup of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension includes a ventilation/perfusion scan, computed tomography pulmonary angiography, direct catheter angiography, echocardiogram, and coronary angiogram, in the future an electrocardiogram-gated dual-energy computed tomography angiography scan may enable a "one-stop" imaging study to guide diagnosis, operability assessment, and treatment decisions with less radiation exposure and cost than traditional chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension imaging modalities.

Clinical Updates on the Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Introduction: Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a known sequela after acute pulmonary embolism (PE). It is a debilitating disease, and potentially fatal if left untreated. This review provides a clinically relevant overview of the disease and discusses the usefulness and limitations of the various investigational and treatment options. Methods: A PubMed search on articles relevant to pulmonary embolism, pulmonary hypertension, chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary endarterectomy, and balloon pulmonary angioplasty were performed. A total of 68 articles were found to be relevant and were reviewed. Results: CTEPH occurs as a result of non-resolution of thrombotic material, with subsequent fibrosis and scarring of the pulmonary arteries. Risk factors have been identified, but the underlying mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. The cardinal symptom of CTEPH is dyspnoea on exertion, but the diagnosis is often challenging due to lack of awareness. The ventilation/perfusion scan is recommended for screening for CTEPH, with other modalities (eg. dual energy computed tomography pulmonary angiography) also being utilised in expert centres. Conventional pulmonary angiography with right heart catherisation is important in the final diagnosis of CTEPH. Conclusion: Operability assessment by a multidisciplinary team is crucial for the management of CTEPH, as pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) remains the guideline recommended treatment and has the best chance of cure. For inoperable patients or those with residual disease post-PEA, medical therapy or balloon pulmonary angioplasty are potential treatment options. Keywords: Balloon pulmonary angioplasty, Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, Pulmonary embolism, Pulmonary endarterectomy, Pulmonary hypertension

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma in the pediatric patient: Review of literature and a case report

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is extremely rare in children. Nevertheless, distinguishing primary PAS from pulmonary embolism is critical to a child's survival. Primary PAS is commonly misdiagnosed as a pulmonary embolism due to similar presenting symptoms and radiographic findings. However, compared to adults, pulmonary embolism is rare in children, especially in patients who do not have predisposing factors or hypercoagulable state. We present a child with primary PAS which mimicked pulmonary embolism on presentation but eventually was resected and is doing well 5 years after resection. In the absence of predisposing factors or hypercoagulable state, solid tumors such as primary PAS should be considered when assessing a pediatric patient with presumed pulmonary embolism.

Pulmonary intimal sarcoma involving the pulmonary valve and right ventricular outflow tract: A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma (PAIS) is a rare and highly aggressive tumor, and approximately 80% of pulmonary cases occur in the pulmonary trunk. We report herein a case of retrograde extension of the sarcoma to the pulmonary valve and right ventricle, which is an uncommon manifestation of this lethal tumor.

PATIENT CONCERNS

A 41-year-old woman was initially diagnosed with pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) and transferred to our hospital.

DIAGNOSIS

Computed tomographic pulmonary angiography (CTPA) showed that there are low-density filling defects in both pulmonary arteries, and the patient was diagnosed with PTE. However, the ultrasonographers considered that the lesion is a space-occupying type that involves the right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary valve instead of PTE. Postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of PAIS.

INTERVENTIONS

The patient underwent resection of pulmonary artery sarcoma and endarterectomy.

OUTCOMES

During the follow-up via telephone 1 month after discharge, the patient reported to have been feeling well.

CONCLUSION

Owing to the rarity of the disease and its non-specific clinical manifestations, approximately half of the PAIS cases are misdiagnosed or have a delayed diagnosis. Thus, improving our understanding of the disease and facilitating its early diagnosis are essential.

Imaging and Surgical Treatment of Primary Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare tumor originating from the pulmonary artery tree. Given the low incidence, few centers have reported on more than a handful of cases. Because of its rarity it is also commonly misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism. Multi-modality diagnostic imaging and recognition of specific imaging characteristics along with a high index of suspicion is required to make the correct diagnosis and expedite treatment. The primary imaging modality for most cardiac tumors such as primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is now MRI. It provides superb spatial resolution as well as functional assessment of the heart and pulmonary circulation. CT imaging also is part of routing imaging and remains as the most pertinent imaging modality to evaluate the lung parenchyma and presence of metastatic disease. Here we review the pertinent imaging modalities and tissue characteristics that facilitate recognition of primary pulmonary artery sarcoma. We also provide a short overview of surgical resection and reconstruction, which is the mainstay therapy, for this rare tumor.

Pulmonary vasculitis: diagnosis and endovascular therapy

Pulmonary vasculitides are caused by a heterogeneous group of diseases with different clinical features and etiologies. Radiologic manifestations depend on the predominant type of vessel involved, which are grouped into large, medium, or small-sized vessels. Diagnosing pulmonary vasculitides is a challenging task, and radiologists play an important role in their management by providing supportive evidence for diagnosis and opportunities for minimally invasive therapy. This paper aims to present a practical approach for understanding the vasculitides that can affect the pulmonary vessels and lungs. We will describe and illustrate the main radiologic findings, discussing opportunities for minimally invasive treatment.

Diagnostic Evaluation of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension is defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure greater than 25 mm Hg. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is defined as pulmonary hypertension in the presence of an organized thrombus within the pulmonary vascular bed that persists at least 3 months after the onset of anticoagulant therapy. Because CTEPH is potentially curable by surgical endarterectomy, correct identification of patients with this form of pulmonary hypertension and an accurate assessment of surgical candidacy are essential to provide optimal care. Patients most commonly present with symptoms of exertional dyspnea and otherwise unexplained decline in exercise capacity. Atypical chest pain, a nonproductive cough, and episodic hemoptysis are observed less frequently. With more advanced disease, patients often develop symptoms suggestive of right ventricular compromise. Physical examination findings are minimal early in the course of this disease, but as pulmonary hypertension progresses, may include nonspecific finding of right ventricular failure, such as a tricuspid regurgitation murmur, pedal edema, and jugular venous distention. Chest radiographs may suggest pulmonary hypertension, but are neither sensitive nor specific for the diagnosis. Radioisotopic ventilation-perfusion scanning is sensitive for detecting CTEPH, making it a valuable screening study. Conventional catheter-based pulmonary angiography retains an important role in establishing the presence and extent of chronic thromboembolic disease. However, computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging are playing a growing diagnostic role. Innovative technologies such as dual-energy computed tomography, dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging, and optical coherence tomography show promise for contributing diagnostic information and assisting in the preoperative characterization of patients with CTEPH.

Intimal spindle cell sarcoma masquerading as adult-onset symptomatic pulmonic stenosis: a case report and review of the literature

Background

Pulmonary artery intimal spindle cell sarcomas are rare and carry with them a poor prognosis and high rate of recurrence. In extremely rare cases, this tumor can infiltrate the pulmonic valve and manifest as adult-onset pulmonic stenosis.

Case presentation

We report an unusual case of a patient with symptomatic, adult-onset severe pulmonic stenosis who was referred for possible balloon valvuloplasty but was subsequently found to have pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma infiltrating the pulmonary valve leading to progressive exertional dyspnea.

Conclusion

The presence of adult-onset pulmonic stenosis should prompt the clinician to investigate further as most cases of pulmonic stenosis are congenital in nature and present early in life. Careful diagnostic evaluation in concert with multimodal imaging should take place to arrive at the correct and challenging diagnosis of sarcoma-induced adult-onset severe pulmonic stenosis. Given the poor prognosis and rapid progression of disease, early diagnosis is crucial.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13019-017-0654-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

An intimal sarcoma of pulmonary artery mimicking pulmonary embolism: a case report and literature review

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma is a highly aggressive disease, and is most often misdiagnosed as pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) due to the similar clinical symptoms and its rarity, which leads to the use of inappropriate treatments such as prolonged anticoagulant therapy. We reported a case of pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma in a patient who was misdiagnosed as having PTE. Pathology after surgery confirmed malignant disease. We concluded that when a patient presents with mild clinical manifestations yet with strong imaging manifestations, pulmonary artery malignancy should be suspected.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma mimicking pulmonary embolism: a case series

BACKGROUND

Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare malignant neoplasm with an aggressive behavior and often difficult to distinguish from pulmonary thromboembolic disease.

AIM

To assess the demographic, clinical, and radiological characteristics of PAS and clinical course.

DESIGN AND METHODS

We retrospectively identified and analyzed all patients with PAS seen at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, between January 1, 1996 and July 31, 2015.

RESULTS

Of nine patients (5 women and 4 men; median age 55 years [range, 24-74 years]), eight were diagnosed while alive with surgical ( n  = 6) or catheter-based endovascular biopsy ( n  = 2); the remaining patient was diagnosed at postmortem examination. All tumors manifested on CT as filling defect in the main, right or left pulmonary artery and were not associated with peripheral filling defects in seven patients. Seven patients were initially treated with anticoagulant therapy for presumed PE; two patients were suspected to have tumor based on constrictive or expanding effect seen on CT. Five patients died after a mean duration of 2.1 years (10 months-4.25 years) after diagnosis. Two patients are alive with recurrence and metastases of the disease 23 and 27 months after diagnosis, respectively; one remaining patient is alive and disease-free 116 months after diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Although PAS is associated with a poor prognosis, long-term survival is possible and can be improved by early diagnosis and prompt surgical resection. Atypical appearance on CT including central mass-like lesion without peripheral emboli and constrictive or expanding effect should raise suspicion of PAS.

Prognostic value of 18F-FDG PET-CT-based functional parameters in patients with soft tissue sarcoma: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Considering the clinical importance of high 5-year mortality, we performed a meta-analysis of maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) from F-FDG PET-CT for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with soft tissue sarcoma.

METHODS

The search and selection of eligible articles was conducted on PubMed and EMBASE. We applied hazard ratio (HR) and odd ratio (OR) to measure the correlation between SUVmax, MTV, and TLG with PFS and OS. The SUVmax was analyzed through subgroup in terms of histological grade and HR of posttreatment SUVmax was also assessed.

RESULTS

Eleven studies with 582 patients were included. The pooled HRs of pretreatment SUVmax were 2.40 (95% CI: 1.38-4.17) for OS and 2.20 (95% CI: 1.47-3.30) for PFS. The HRs in terms of OS were 3.20 (95% CI: 1.71-5.98) based on MTV and 5.20 (95% CI: 2.34-11.56) based on TLG. Meanwhile, the predict results of pretreatment SUVmax on OR remained significant and the HRs of posttreatment SUVmax were 2.25 (95% CI: 1.33-3.80) for OS and 2.87 (95% CI: 1.81-4.55) for PFS.

CONCLUSIONS

The pretreatment SUVmax, MTV, and TLG of F-FDG PET-CT showed significant prognostic value for OS and the PET-CT can be used in identifying high-risk patients about progression and survival. The analysis for posttreatment SUVmax suggested PET-CT as a promising equipment in monitoring therapy response.

Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration of pulmonary artery tumors: A systematic review (with video)

Convex probe endobronchial ultrasound (CP-EBUS) was originally introduced as a diagnostic and staging tool for lung cancer and subsequently utilized for diagnosis of other malignant and benign mediastinal diseases such as melanoma, lymphoma, and sarcoidosis. More recently, CP-EBUS has been successfully used for the visualization and diagnosis of pulmonary emboli and other vascular lesions including primary and metastatic pulmonary artery (PA) tumors. In this review, we will underline the role of EBUS-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) for the diagnosis of pulmonary arterial tumors such as sarcomas and tumor emboli. We will concisely discuss the clinical applications of EBUS-TBNA and the types of pulmonary arterial tumors and their different diagnostic modalities. We searched the Cochrane Library and PubMed from 2004 to 2014 to provide the most comprehensive review. Only 10 cases of EBUS-TBNA for intravascular lesions were identified in the literature. Although many cases of EBUS and EUS-guided transvascular tumor biopsies were described in the literature, there were no reported cases of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) for intravascular tumor biopsies. Except for one paper, all cases were published as case reports.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

BACKGROUND

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) results from inadequate recanalization of the pulmonary circulation after pulmonary thromboembolism. Its 2-year prevalence is 1-4% . If untreated, patients with CTEPH have a mean life expectancy of less than three years. Fortunately, a number of effective treatments are now available.

METHODS

This review is based on a selective search of PubMed for pertinent articles published from 1980 to 2014.

RESULTS

The gold-standard test for the exclusion of CTEPH is perfusion scintigraphy: the predictive value of a negative test is nearly 100% . On the other hand, confirmation of a positive diagnosis for treatment planning requires right-heart catheterization and pulmonary angiography. The treatment of first choice for CTEPH is surgical pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA), with which about 70% of patients can be cured. The perioperative mortality of this procedure in experienced centers is now 2-4% . Thirty to 50% of all patients with CTEPH are considered inoperable; for these patients, and for patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension after PEA, the drug riociguat was introduced in Germany in 2014 (the first drug specifically introduced for the treatment of CTEPH). There is also a new interventional treatment option for inoperable patients-pulmonary balloon angioplasty, which is currently being performed in a small number of centers.

CONCLUSION

The timely diagnosis of CTEPH, followed by referral to a specialized center, is now more important than ever, because treatment options are now available for nearly all of the forms in which this disease can manifest itself.

Pseudo pulmonary embolism in cancer patients: a new clinical syndrome

To characterize the clinical features of oncology patients presenting with shortness of breath mistakenly diagnosed at first with pulmonary emboli, but later found instead to have extrinsic compression of the pulmonary artery or its tributaries by tumor. Medical charts and computed tomography (CT) angiographies of these patients were reviewed retrospectively. In a 7-year period, 11 patients from a single institute were identified. Five patients were excluded as they had a pleural and pericardial effusion that by itself could result in dyspnea. All had varied solid tumors and none had lymphoma. In three of six patients, an increased ratio between right and left ventricle was detected by CT angiography; however, in contradistinction to patients with pulmonary emboli, this was not found to be associated with short survival. The term 'pseudo pulmonary emboli' is suggested to describe this phenomenon. Anticoagulant treatment to avoid in-situ pulmonary artery thrombosis may be considered; however, misdiagnosis of pulmonary embolism may delay the appropriate treatment with chemotherapy, biological therapy, and radiotherapy.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare but debilitating and life-threatening complication of acute pulmonary embolism. CTEPH results from persistent obstruction of pulmonary arteries and progressive vascular remodelling. Not all patients presenting with CTEPH have a history of clinically overt pulmonary embolism. The diagnostic work-up to detect or rule out CTEPH should include ventilation-perfusion scintigraphy, which has high sensitivity and a negative predictive value of nearly 100%. CT angiography usually reveals typical features of CTEPH, including mosaic perfusion, part or complete occlusion of pulmonary arteries, and intraluminal bands and webs. Patients with suspected CTEPH should be referred to a specialist centre for right-heart catheterisation and pulmonary angiography. Surgical pulmonary endarterectomy remains the treatment of choice for CTEPH and is associated with excellent long-term results and a high probability of cure. For patients with inoperable CTEPH, various medical and interventional therapies are being developed.

Primary intrathoracic malignant mesenchymal tumours: computed tomography features of a rare group of chest neoplasms

Objectives

To describe the computed tomography (CT) features in a case series of primary intrathoracic extracardiac malignant mesenchymal tumours (sarcomas).

Methods

A 5-year retrospective research was conducted, and 18 patients were selected. CT exams were reviewed by two chest radiologists, blinded to tumour pathological type, origin and grade. Lesions were described in relation to location, size, shape, margins, enhancement, presence of cavitation, calcifications, ground glass component, intratumoural enhanced vessels, pleural effusion, pleural tags, lymphangitis, chest wall/rib involvement and pathological lymph nodes.

Results

The readers described five pulmonary, six mediastinal and seven pleural/wall based lesions. Mean largest diameter was 103 mm. The most frequent shape was irregular (n = 12), most predominant margin was smooth (n = 12) and enhancement was mostly heterogeneous (n = 8). Intratumoural vessels and pleural effusion were seen in 11 patients. Pathological lymph nodes were present in four cases and calcifications in two cases.

Conclusions

Some frequent radiological features were described independently of tumour location and subtype. A sarcoma should be included as a major differential diagnosis when the radiologist faces an intrathoracic mass of large size (>70 mm) but with well defined smooth or lobulated margins, especially if presenting intratumoural vessels, associated pleural effusion but no significant lymphadenopathy.

Main messages

• Malignant mesenchymal tumours (sarcomas) are rare and can arise from any structure in the chest.

• Intrathoracic sarcomas show some frequent radiological features, independent of location and type.

• Some CT features may help the radiologist suspect for a sarcoma instead of other more common tumours.

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma. Problems in the differential diagnosis

PURPOSE

Pulmonary artery sarcomas (PAS) are rare malignant tumours that originate from the intimal layer of the pulmonary artery, occur in middle age and have a poor prognosis. In planning appropriate treatment, malignant disease should be suspected whenever there are specific clinical and radiological manifestations, in order to establish the differential diagnosis with acute pulmonary embolism or chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, with which this malignancy is most commonly confused.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between 2008 and 2012, we managed four adult patients with a nonspecific clinical presentation who, at the conclusion of the diagnostic process, were found to be affected by PAS. Because of the initial suspicion of pulmonary embolism, all patients underwent chest radiograph, lung perfusion scintigraphy, trans-oesophageal echocardiography, and computed tomography (CT) angiography of the chest. Then, because of the peculiar CT findings and lack of response to anticoagulation therapy, a clinical suspicion of PAS was considered and all patients underwent positron-emission tomography (PET)-CT, and one patient also magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the chest. Subsequently, all patients underwent thromboendoarterectomy with histological investigation of the surgical specimen, which confirmed the clinical and radiological suspicion of PAS.

RESULTS

CT is the technique that enabled the first step in the differential diagnosis between PAS and pulmonary embolism. The CT characteristics suggestive of PAS included the particular filling defect occupying the entire lumen of the pulmonary trunk with increase in diameter of the involved vessel and patchy and delayed contrast enhancement at CT angiography, more evident in the venous phase. PET-CT was used to differentiate between PAS and pulmonary embolism on the basis of the intensity of increased radiopharmaceutical uptake. MRI was used in one case of equivocal results on PET-CT, to improve tissue characterisation of the lesions and differentiation between the thrombotic and neoplastic components.

CONCLUSIONS

The radiologist is usually the first to raise a suspicion of PAS in patients with severe dyspnoea and filling defect in the pulmonary artery, unresponsive to anticoagulation therapy. Combining CT and PET-CT proved to be extremely useful in assessing patients with suspected PAS. Early diagnosis with the help of integrated imaging remains today the main direction to pursue in order to obtain improvements in prognosis.

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a potentially life-threatening condition characterized by obstruction of pulmonary arterial vasculature by acute or recurrent thromboemboli with subsequent organization, leading to progressive pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure. Until relatively recently, CTEPH was a diagnosis made primarily at autopsy, but advances made in diagnostic modalities and surgical pulmonary endarterectomy techniques have made this disease treatable and even potentially curable. Although published guidelines are available, in the absence of randomized controlled trials regarding CTEPH there is a lack of standardization, and treatment options have to be individualized.

Imaging sarcomas of the great vessels and heart

Primary sarcomas of the aorta, pulmonary artery, superior vena cava, inferior vena cava, and the heart are rare neoplasms. Aortic sarcomas are broadly categorized as either primarily luminal or primarily mural, with luminal sarcomas more likely to be misdiagnosed as thrombus. Pulmonary artery sarcomas are often mistaken for pulmonary embolism both clinically and at imaging. Vena caval sarcomas appear as intraluminal or extraluminal masses connecting to or filling the veins. The most common are leiomyosarcomas of the inferior vena cava. Primary sarcomas of the heart are rare and usually appear as heterogeneous aggressive masses.

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension represents a group of conditions characterized by higher than normal pulmonary artery pressures. Despite improved treatments, outcomes in many instances remain poor. In recent years, there has been growing interest in the use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) in patients with pulmonary hypertension. This technique offers certain advantages over other imaging modalities since it is well suited to the assessment of the right ventricle and the proximal pulmonary arteries. Reflecting the relatively sparse evidence supporting its use, CMR is not routinely recommended for patients with pulmonary hypertension. However, it is particularly useful in patient with pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with congenital heart disease. Furthermore, it has proven informative in a number of ways; illustrating how right ventricular remodeling is favorably reversed by drug therapies and providing explicit confirmation of the importance of the right ventricle to clinical outcome. This review will discuss these aspects and practical considerations before speculating on future applications.

Pulmonary Artery Leiomyosarcoma Diagnosed without Delay

A 63-year-old female presented with abnormal lung shadows but had, apart from this, few symptoms. Computed tomography (CT) revealed multiple nodules and blockage of the pulmonary artery. She was immediately diagnosed with pulmonary artery sarcoma based on a careful differential diagnosis and underwent surgery. Her tumor was pathologically diagnosed as leiomyosarcoma (i.e. intimal sarcoma). Pulmonary artery sarcoma can be easily confounded with thromboembolism in a clinical setting and some cases are diagnosed post mortem only. In our case, clinical prediction scores (Wells score, Geneva score, and revised Geneva score) for the pulmonary embolism showed low probability. Moreover, chest CT showed uncommon findings for pulmonary thromboembolism, as the nodules were too big for thrombi. Because surgical resection can provide the only hope of long-term survival in cases of pulmonary artery sarcoma, clinicians should consider this possibility in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. Clinical prediction scores and CT findings might help to reach the correct diagnosis of pulmonary artery sarcoma.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma: a rare cause of dyspnoea

A 72-year-old woman with no significant medical history presented to the emergency room for severe dyspnoea. The initial clinical diagnosis was acute pulmonary embolism. Heparin infusion was initiated while awaiting a computed tomographic scan but the patient's condition deteriorated dramatically and stat echocardiogram showed tamponade. Post-evacuation echo showed a dilated right ventricle with pulmonary hypertension and obstruction of the right pulmonary artery by a homogeneous mass attached to the pulmonary artery, suggesting a tumour rather than a thrombus. Computed tomographic scan confirmed the presence of an obstructive mass with almost no perfusion of the right lung. The patient was referred to cardiac surgery and the mass was removed, with anatomo-pathological diagnosis of a typical pulmonary artery sarcoma. Unfortunately, the patient died a few days after surgery. Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare tumour that arises in the central pulmonary arteries. Clinical presentation is often attributed to other causes of pulmonary hypertension, like pulmonary embolism. Magnetic resonance imaging could help to distinguish a soft tissue mass from a thrombus but definitive diagnosis is almost always made at surgery or autopsy since patients usually present in acute and unstable situations. Prognosis is poor, from several months to a few years, and depends on how early the diagnosis is made, the presence of recurrence or metastasis after surgical resection, and the use of adjuvant therapy like radiation and chemotherapy.

Pulmonary thromboembolic disease. Clinical management of acute and chronic disease

Pulmonary thromboembolism falls between the areas of pulmonology and cardiology, internal medicine and intensive care, radiology and nuclear medicine, and hematology and cardiothoracic surgery. Depending on their clinical background, physicians faced with a patient with a pulmonary thromboembolism may speak different languages and adopt different treatment approaches. Now, however, there is an opportunity to end the Tower of Babel surrounding pulmonary thromboembolism. There is a growing acknowledgement that the key clinical problems in both acute pulmonary embolism and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension are linked to right ventricular pressure overload and right ventricular failure. As a result, cardiologists and cardiac intensive care specialists are taking an increasing interest in understanding and combating these conditions. The European Society of Cardiology was the first to elaborate comprehensive clinical practice guidelines for pulmonary thromboembolism and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. The task forces involved in producing these guidelines included radiologists, pulmonologists, hematologists, intensive care physicians and surgeons, which ensured that the final document was universally acceptable. The aim of this article was to provide an overview of the epidemiology, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis and prevention of acute pulmonary thromboembolism and chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension, while taking into account European Society of Cardiology guidelines and incorporating new evidence where necessary.

Pulmonary artery leiomyosarcoma successfully treated by right pneumonectomy

A 79-year-old woman had a primary tumor of the pulmonary artery, which was initially diagnosed as chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. Multislice angio-computed tomography showed a solid mass in the right pulmonary artery. Radical resection of the tumor was achieved by right pneumonectomy via a transsternal transpericardial approach. The patient was alive and free of disease 36 months after surgery.

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma: surgical management and differential diagnosis with pulmonary embolism and pulmonary valve stenosis

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY

Primary pulmonary artery sarcomas are rare and lethal tumors that are usually diagnosed during surgery or autopsy. We present six cases of primary pulmonary artery sarcomas and discuss clinical features, differential diagnosis, surgical treatment, and outcome of the tumors.

METHODS

Between January 1994 and July 2008, six patients were identified with the disease during operation. Three patients were initially diagnosed with pulmonary valve stenosis, and two patients had a presumptive diagnosis of chronic pulmonary embolism. Two patients had simple or partial tumor resection. Four patients had radical tumor resection and homograft reconstruction of the pulmonary arteries.

RESULTS

Histological examinations showed five malignant mesenchymomas and one fibrosarcoma. One patient died of refractory pulmonary hypertension during operation. Two patients died 4 months postoperatively because of brain metastases. Two patients were alive for 3 and 9 months, respectively after the operation with recurrent tumor. One patient is alive even 2 years after resection with no signs of recurrence or metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

Because of similar clinical features, pulmonary artery sarcomas are often confused with other pulmonary vascular obstructive diseases. Computed tomography scanning and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging could be useful methods for differential diagnosis. The prognosis is very poor. The survival time after resection varies from several months to several years depending on the presence of recurrence or metastasis. Early diagnosis and radical surgical resection presents the only opportunity for a potential cure.

Management of primary pulmonary artery sarcomas

The objective of this review is to determine the outcome of patients with sarcomas involving the main pulmonary artery, pulmonic valve, or right ventricular outflow tract. Survival data were analyzed using an aggregate series derived from the published literature in conjunction with a current series. Median survival was 36.5 +/- 20.2 months for patients undergoing an attempt at curative resection compared with 11 +/- 3 months for those undergoing incomplete resection. Median survival was 24.7 +/- 8.5 months for patients undergoing multimodality treatment compared with 8.0 +/- 1.7 months for patients having single-modality therapy. A complete review of diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, and surveillance of primary pulmonary artery sarcomas follows.

Pulmonary artery sarcoma: a histologic and follow-up study with emphasis on a subset of low-grade myofibroblastic sarcomas with a good long-term follow-up

Primary sarcomas of the pulmonary artery are rare, with few series correlating histologic features with follow-up data. We present a series of 43 pulmonary artery sarcomas with primary intraluminal growth, 32 with follow-up information. Symptoms were generally related to shortness of breath and often attributed to recurrent pulmonary embolism. There was no sex predilection. There were 28 pleomorphic-fascicular sarcomas, ranging from relatively differentiated spindle cell myxofibrosarcoma to undifferentiated round-cell sarcoma, often with histologic heterogeneity and overlap. The remaining tumors were 7 osteosarcomas, 4 leiomyosarcomas, 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, and 3 intravascular low-grade myofibroblastic sarcomas. Of the pleomorphic-fascicular sarcomas, 2 demonstrated extensive fibrosis with hyalinization and pleomorphic tumor cells were confined to a luminal rim of neoplastic cells. Histologically, mitotic rate was significantly lower in low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma than in the other histologic subtypes. Follow-up revealed that 2 of 3 intra-arterial low-grade myofibroblastic sarcomas were cured with no evidence of disease at long-term follow-up. The other tumor subtypes, which represented intermediate and high-grade sarcomas, demonstrated 5 survivors of greater than 3 years, none surviving without disease. The only parameters associated with prolonged survival, other than low-grade myofibroblastic phenotype, was age less than 40 years at onset of symptoms. We conclude that survival beyond 3 years is possible for primary pulmonary artery sarcoma, but cure without evidence of disease is currently possible only for the select subtype of intravascular low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma.

Metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equina syndrome: first report of a case

STUDY DESIGN

Case report and clinical discussion.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a rare case of metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equine syndrome.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Pulmonary artery sarcoma is a rare tumor, frequently misdiagnosed as pulmonary embolism, and although it is highly aggressive, metastasis to bone is very rare. In our case, the tumor metastasised to the vertebral column, which lead the patient to present with cauda equine-type symptoms.

METHODS

We report the clinical and imaging features in a 38-year-old female presenting with back pain and weakness of the legs. Although initially misdiagnosed as a primary bone tumor of the vertebral column and a concurrent pulmonary embolism, the final diagnosis of pulmonary artery sarcoma with spinal metastasis, presenting as cauda equina syndrome was made.

RESULTS

At surgery, the mass was excised with the pulmonary valve and replaced with a homograft. The histology demonstrated an undifferentiated intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery. When stable enough the patient underwent a posterior L4-S1 decompression laminectomy after which she regained the power in the legs. The histology also showed a metastatic undifferentiated intimal sarcoma likely to have come from the pulmonary artery. The patient went on to receive a more formal vertebrectomy, front and back repair, and radiotherapy. Her 1-year follow-up computed tomography (CT) chest showed evidence of further metastases.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first case of metastatic pulmonary intimal sarcoma presenting as cauda equine syndrome described in the literature.

[Invasion of the pulmonary artery by an undifferentiated carcinoma]

INTRODUCTION

The diagnosis of chronic obstruction of the pulmonary artery is difficult. We present the case of a woman with an invasive, undifferentiated carcinoma of the pulmonary artery.

CASE REPORT

A 61 year old woman complained of increasing dyspnoea. This was evaluated by computed tomography which showed a defect in the main pulmonary artery. There was no clinical or radiological improvement following anticoagulant treatment for two months. A repeat CT scan showed a persisting intravascular defect and the diagnoses considered included post-embolic pulmonary arterial hypertension and angiosarcoma. A surgical biopsy was performed and pericardial and aortic tumour nodules were found during the operation. The pathological examination revealed undifferentiated carcinoma. Further investigations failed to reveal the primary site.

CONCLUSION

Invasion of the pulmonary artery by angiosarcoma or other tumour is part of the differential diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic disease. The diagnosis rests on histology obtained by an intravascular or surgical procedure. Complete surgical excision may be possible in angiosarcoma but it was impossible in our patient. The patient died despite two courses of chemotherapy and targeted therapy with erlotinib.

Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma: a brief case series

Primary pulmonary artery intimal sarcomas are often diagnosed only at the time of surgery or autopsy as a result of few specific findings both clinically and on imaging studies. We report two cases of this rare and lethal malignancy, both of which were initially thought to be manifestations of thromboembolic disease. In the case of one man, the diagnosis was delayed several months, at which point attempted surgical resection was not feasible. In the second case the echocardiographic and computed tomographic results generated further evaluation. This led to a more prompt diagnosis and treatment extending the patient's survival. In addition, we describe the echocardiographic findings that lent support to the need for surgical intervention and histologic diagnosis.

Hypertension pulmonaire postembolique

INTRODUCTION

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare disease characterized by the persistence of thromboemboli obstructing the pulmonary arteries as an organized tissue. The consequence is an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance resulting in pulmonary hypertension (PH) and progressive right heart failure.

BACKGROUND

It is difficult to recognize the postembolic nature of PH because there is no known history of thromboembolic disease in more than 50% of cases. Diagnosis is based on the presence of mismatched segmental defects in the ventilation-perfusion scanning. When CTEPH is suspected, pulmonary angiography and high-resolution CT scan are required to establish the diagnosis and to assess the operability. Pulmonary angiography is always performed in conjunction with a diagnostic right heart catheterization, which is required to confirm the diagnosis of PH and to determine the degree of hemodynamic impairement. If there is a good correlation between the pulmonary vascular resistance and the anatomical obstruction, pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) must be proposed. Otherwise, vasodilator and antiproliferative treatments and lung transplantation represent interesting alternatives.

VIEWPOINT AND CONCLUSION

PEA remains the treatment of choice for eligible patients. Nevertheless, there is a need to conduct randomized trials to assess the efficacy of novel medical therapies in some situations: (1) in inoperable CTEPH due to distal lesions, (2) before PEA (therapeutic bridge) in patients who are considered "high risk" due to extremely poor hemodynamics, (3) in patients with persistent pulmonary hypertension after surgery.

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma: report of three cases and review of the literature

Pulmonary artery sarcomas (PASs) are rare tumors of the vasculature of the lung that usually present as a thromboembolism. Failure of anticoagulant therapy to relieve all of a patient's symptoms suggests the diagnosis. Approximately 75% of patients with PAS present with dyspnea, and slightly > 50% also experience chest pain or cough. Imaging studies (chest computed tomography with 3-dimensional reconstruction, magnetic resonance imaging, perfusion lung scan, and pulmonary angiogram) are usually unspecific. A definitive diagnosis requires pathologic examination of tissue obtained by intravascular, percutaneous, or surgical biopsy. Treatment of primary PAS is usually surgical with or without adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Because these tumors are rare, data from large randomized trials are not available. Palliative chemotherapy with anthracyclines and ifosfamide is the usual treatment in advanced disease, with response rates of approximately 50%. The mean survival time ranges from 14 months to 18 months. We report 3 cases of PAS treated with surgery and chemotherapy (anthracyclines and ifosfamide) with different outcomes.

Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma detected with a pulmonary infarction

Primary malignant tumors of the pulmonary arteries occur infrequently. The clinical presentation and diagnostic imaging features of the tumor are usually nonspecific and correct diagnosis is often delayed. In this report, we present a case of pulmonary artery sarcoma. MRI and PET-CT were found to be useful for differentiating the tumor from a thromboembolism.

Intimal sarcoma of the pulmonary artery: Report of an autopsy case

Primary pulmonary artery sarcomas (PASs) are rare and lethal tumors. They are easily misdiagnosed as chronic pulmonary embolism, mediastinal mass or tumor emboli, which delay a proper treatment. Although the advanced technologies are now increasingly being used, their diagnosis is usually hard to establish preoperatively at the present time. We report here a case of a 68-year-old female with PAS with lung metastases, who firstly presented with symptoms of common cold and anemia. Although a PAS had been suspected, the final diagnosis of pulmonary intimal sarcoma was made only postoperatively by histological and immunohistochemical examination. The patient died 8 months after the operation because of tumor growth progression, despite adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Although pulmonary intimal sarcomas are usually of poorly differentiated mesenchymal malignancy, most reported cases are immunohistochemically positive for vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (SMA), and/or desmin, therefore resembling leiomyosarcomas. However, the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma should not be made on the basis of immunostains in the absence of typical morphologic features, and PAS, like the present case, should be more appropriately classified as intimal sarcoma according to the new WHO Classification of Tumours of Soft Tissue and Bone published in 2002.