Extrapleural pneumonectomy for sarcomas report of two cases

dims and background: Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which is a very unco mmon surgical procedure, is electively indicated only in patients with earl y stages of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a rare condition. Two adults su ffering from sarcomas and treated with EPP are described here,, Methods: A 29-year-old male with four left-sided lung metastases and ipsila teral pleural effusion from a chondrosarcoma of the mandibula and a 64-year old woman with a megamass in the left chest due to a local recurrence of a hemangiopericytoma underwent EPP, Results: Extra-EPP-field multiorgan progression was diagnosed 14 months fol lowing surgery In the first patient who died at the 24th postoperative mont h but remained free of disease at the site of surgery. The second patient h ad a chest wall relapse at the forty-third month following EPP, which was t reated by partial resection of the second and third ribs. She is alive and disease-free at the twelfth postoperative month, Discussion: EPP may be considered for salvage treatment in selected patient s with intrathoracic sarcomas not amenable to other effective therapies to achieve mid- to long-term disease control, even in the case of advanced spr ead.