Pulmonary Leiomyosarcoma: A Diagnostic Challenge

Primary pulmonary leiomyosarcoma (PPL) is an extremely rare form of lung cancer, accounting for only a small fraction of all lung cancer cases. We describe a middle-aged woman who came to the hospital with cough and breathlessness, and imaging revealed multiple lung masses. A biopsy showed spindle-shaped tumor cells positive for smooth muscle markers, confirming leiomyosarcoma. She was treated with combination chemotherapy followed by oral pazopanib, showing good clinical and radiological improvement. This case highlights how rare and difficult to diagnose this tumor can be and the importance of tissue diagnosis in guiding effective treatment.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-11-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.96267
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.52
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Pulmonary Leiomyosarcoma: A Diagnostic Challenge

Shazia Sultana, Dhanasekar Thangaswamy
1 citations
Cureus
Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment
1.52
article

Pulmonary Leiomyosarcoma: A Diagnostic Challenge

Shazia Sultana, Dhanasekar Thangaswamy
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Primary pulmonary leiomyosarcoma (PPL) is an extremely rare form of lung cancer, accounting for only a small fraction of all lung cancer cases. We describe a middle-aged woman who came to the hospital with cough and breathlessness, and imaging revealed multiple lung masses. A biopsy showed spindle-shaped tumor cells positive for smooth muscle markers, confirming leiomyosarcoma. She was treated with combination chemotherapy followed by oral pazopanib, showing good clinical and radiological improvement. This case highlights how rare and difficult to diagnose this tumor can be and the importance of tissue diagnosis in guiding effective treatment.

CureusVol. 17(11)
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (IN)
Openalex Percentile: Top 13%
Sarcoma Diagnosis and Treatment
1.52
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.