Biphasic pulmonary blastoma with germ cell differentiation: a challenge in diagnosis and treatment.

Abstract

Serviço de Oncologia Médica. Instituto Português de Oncologia Francisco Gentil. Porto. Portugal. A 27-year-old man, smoker, presented with three months history of fever. A left pulmonary mass inseparable from the heart was identified and serum alpha-fetoprotein was 4160 ng/ml. The morphologic aspects and imunohistochimestry of the biopsy specimen, in conjunction with the clinical findings were compatible with a diagnosis of pulmonary blastoma with germ cell differentiation. The tumour was considered unresectable. The patient was submitted to two cycles of primary chemotherapy with bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin. Despite a reduction in serum alpha-fetoprotein, the tumor did not regress. Second line chemotherapy (with paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin) was instituted, but progressive disease was identified after 2 cycles. Six months after the diagnosis cerebral metastases were found and the patient died. This case illustrates a rare situation of difficult diagnosis and treatment.