Primary synovial sarcoma of the lung successfully resected under temporary bypass

Abstract

A 48-year old man presented with chest pain and haemoptysis. Chest computed tomography showed a 60-mm mass in the left upper lobe of the lung, adjacent to the distal aortic arch. Bronchoscopic cytology revealed the presence of malignant cells and, in the absence of evidence of distant metastasis, a thoracotomy was performed. Although the tumour was firmly adherent to the distal aortic arch, under temporary bypass from the left subclavian artery to the descending aorta, it was successfully resected en bloc with the section of the aorta attached to it. The tumour was diagnosed as a primary synovial sarcoma of the lung on the basis of histopathological findings and fluorescent chromogenic in situ hybridization, showing SS18 gene rearrangement. © The Author 2013. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery. All rights reserved.