Leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary vein

Objective. We report a case of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) of the pulmonary vein and comment on the natural history and determinants for survival for this rare condition. Experimental design. Our retrospective review is only the fourth such case reported in the world's Literature. Setting. A teaching hospital with an active surgical residency program. Patient or participant. A 61-year-old female who presented with a central pulmonary mass. Interventions. Complete resection without pneumonectomy or cardiopulmonary bypass. Pathology showed low grade LMS. Measures. Determinants for survival include complete surgical resection and a low mitotic activity of the tumor. Results. The patient remains no evidence of disease three years following initial treatment. Conclusions. One reported case of LMS of the pulmonary vein had favorable determinants for survival; complete surgical resection and low mitotic activity of the tumor. These factors may have contributed to the successful outcome. The natural history of LMS of the pulmonary vein appears similar to the more widely studied LMS of the inferior vena cava.