Pleuropulmonary blastoma: 4 cases

Pleuropulmonary blastoma is an uncommon malignant lung tumor observed in ch ildren. Outcome is often unfavorable. Two boys and two girls, mean age 4.5 years, were admitted for nonspecific respiratory signs. Oriented by radiolo gy findings, the diagnosis of pleuropulmonary blastoma was confirmed at pat hology examination of a pneumonectomy specimen. Three of the children were given postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. There were three deaths and one child,vas lost to follow-up. We discuss the clinical features of pleuropulmonary blastoma. No optimal tr eatment has been defined for this often fatal tumor.