OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma often presents with clinically aggressive behavior. We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients who underwent surgery from 1999 to 2013. RESULTS: Sarcomatous components included spindle cell type in six (38%) patients, giant cell type in three (19%) patients, and mixed cell type in seven (44%) patients. The 5-year overall survival rate was 40.6%. On univariate analysis, spindle cell type, pN0, and small tumor diameter were associated with better prognosis. The 5-year survival of six patients with spindle cell type was 83.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size, we suggest that patients with spindle cell type may have favorable prognoses. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS: Pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma often presents with clinically aggressive behavior. We retrospectively reviewed 16 patients who underwent surgery from 1999 to 2013. RESULTS:Sarcomatous components included spindle cell type in six (38%) patients, giant cell type in three (19%) patients, and mixed cell type in seven (44%) patients. The 5-year overall survival rate was 40.6%. On univariate analysis, spindle cell type, pN0, and small tumor diameter were associated with better prognosis. The 5-year survival of six patients with spindle cell type was 83.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the small sample size, we suggest that patients with spindle cell type may have favorable prognoses. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.