BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of pulmonary @entity242 is difficult and frequently delayed owing to the insidious, non-specific nature of the symptoms. We present our experience with surgery for this rare disease. METHODS: Between 1995 and 1998, four @entity1 underwent surgery for pulmonary @entity242 . They presented with similar symptoms and were initially treated for @entity1031 disease of the lung. Preoperative diagnosis was established using computer tomography and echocardiography. Postoperatively, two @entity1 received radiotherapy and one combined radio-/chemotherapy. RESULTS: One @entity1 underwent thrombendarteriectomy of the trunk with adjuvant radiotherapy and remains @entity5 -free after three years and one showed complete regression of @entity3 after chemotherapy and remains well after more than one year. The other two @entity1 died within two months of surgery, one due to a @entity5 mass in the inferior caval vein and the other because of cerebral @entity3 . CONCLUSIONS: According to the literature, mean survival rate is 1.5 months without resection and 10 months with resection, with survival up to four years following combined resection and adjuvant therapy. Our findings are in agreement with this.

Combined resection and adjuvant therapy improves prognosis of XXXX of the pulmonary trunk.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity242 :: ('MESH:D012509', 'Disease') :: ['trunk sarcomas', 'artery sarcoma'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor'] @entity1031 :: ('MESH:D013923', 'Disease') :: ['thromboembolic'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastases']
@entity242 :: (MESH:D012509,Disease) :: ['sarcomas']
