Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma: A Rare and Poor Prognosis Cancer–A Retrospective Analysis

Pulmonary carcinosarcoma (PCS) is an uncommon and aggressive cancer, characterized by a combination of epithelial and sarcomatous tissue components. It is responsible for less than 1% of all lung tumors and usually affects older male smokers. However, the clinicopathological features and biological behavior of PCS remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to shed light on these aspects. A total of eight patients with pathologically confirmed PCS were included in this retrospective study. The tumors varied in size, with diameters ranging from 3.5 cm to 21.5 cm. Six patients had central tumors, while the remaining two had peripheral lesions. Symptoms were largely dependent on the location of the tumor and included coughing, shortness of breath, and hemoptysis. Surgical resection was performed in seven patients, although PCS is known for its rapid progression and frequent metastasis, which results in a poor prognosis and limited survival, usually between 6 months and 1 year. The role of neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy-radiotherapy remains controversial, and there is no consensus on its effectiveness. Surgical resection of the lung is still considered the most appropriate treatment, but even with this intervention, survival rates are generally low. Given the rarity and challenging nature of PCS, further studies are needed to explore more effective treatment options for this cancer.