Bronchopulmonary leiomyosarcoma and fibrosarcoma. A study of 32 cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Nineteen cases of bronchopulmonary leiomyosarcoma and 13 cases of bronchopulmonary fibrosarcoma in the files of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, as well as 48 cases of each of these tumors previously reported, were reviewed in an attempt to clarify their histopathologic criteria and biologic behavior. The number of mitoses, the size, and the endobronchial or intrapulmonary location of the tumors seemed to be the best bases for predicting their biologic behavior. The small endobronchial tumors confined to the bronchial wall had a benign behavior for the most part. On the other hand, the intrapulmonary tumors varied in their degree of malignancy, depending upon their number of mitoses and size. Contrary to earlier belief, many of the latter tumors were found to be of a relatively high grade of malignancy because of their large size, local extension, or metastasis.