Pulmonary fibrosarcoma in childhood: Fiber-optic bronchoscopic diagnosis and review of the literature

Primary pulmonary fibrosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor in childhood. In t he absence of metastases, complete resection is curative. An 8-year-old boy suffered from unresolving pneumonia due to an obstructing lesion in the le ft main bronchus. Cytology of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histolog y of bronchial biopsy revealed the diagnosis of pulmonary fibrosarcoma. The tumor did not respond to chemotherapy, and a total lobectomy with sleeve r esection was performed with complete removal of the neoplasm. Two years aft er the operation the child has no evidence of disease. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, I nc.