PLEUROPULMONARY BLASTOMA AS UNUSUAL CAUSE OF CHRONIC COUGH AND THORACIC PAIN

Background: Chronic cough and thoracic pain, commonly caused by upper airway infections, are frequently seen symptoms in pediatrics. These ' 'benign'' symptoms are very seldom caused by malignant disorders. Meth ods: In two patients (male, age 4 1/12, and 4 3/12 years) chronic coug h and thoracic pain were due to a malignant pulmonary neoplasm (Pleuro pulmonary blastoma). Results: Pleuropulmonary blastoma is a rare malig nant primary pulmonary neoplasm in childhood with a poor prognosis. An incomplete resection was performed in both cases. Both patients recei ved postoperative radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy. One boy d ied, the other one is alive and well more than 6 years after diagnosis without evidence of disease. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that e ven after incomplete resection subsequent multimodal therapy (adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy) can provide a long term remission.