Fatal Pulmonary Tumor Embolism in a Child with Chondroblastic Osteosarcoma

Abstract

Fatal embolic chondroblastic osteosarcoma to the lung is an extremely rare phenomenon. We report a case of a 15-year-old boy who developed bilateral pulmonary embolism shortly after resection of the right distal femur for chondroblastic osteosarcoma. The patient succumbed to right-sided heart failure 8 weeks later. An autopsy revealed extensive intravascular tumor emboli in the bilateral pulmonary arteries and their branches. No metastatic lesions were identified in the lungs. We review the clinical, radiologic, and pathologic findings of this patient and the literature.