Rare case report of main pulmonary artery occupying lesion: pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Background: Pulmonary artery intimal sarcoma (PAIS) is a rare aggressive malignant tumour that is easily confused with pulmonary embolism and poses considerable diagnostic challenges. Case summary: This case report details a 68-year-old male with progressive dyspnoea and chest tightness, initially misdiagnosed as pneumonia and pulmonary thromboembolism. Multimodal imaging, including echocardiography and contrast-enhanced computed tomography, identified an irregular mass within the pulmonary artery causing luminal stenosis, necessitating urgent surgical intervention. Histopathological examination confirmed PAIS. Postoperative recovery without adjuvant chemotherapy resulted in no recurrence or metastasis at a 2-year follow-up. Discussion: This case underscores the pivotal role of imaging in differentiating PAIS from thromboembolic conditions and highlights surgical resection as the cornerstone of treatment. Although the prognosis of PAIS remains poor, complete surgical excision may extend survival, emphasizing the importance of early multidisciplinary collaboration and long-term monitoring. This report advocates for increased clinical suspicion of PAIS in cases of refractory dyspnoea to reduce diagnostic delays.
Authors: Lei Liu, Ling Chen, Hui Chen, Jing Yao, Aijuan Fang
Institutions: Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Nanjing University
Language: English
Topic: Cardiac tumors and thrombi
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $815
OpenAlex ID: W4414624597
