Description
The specimen shows both the upper and lower lobes of the right lung; in the lower lobe there is a
circumscribed tumour mass in which there are numerous areas of necrosis. The tumour extends to
the surface of the lung and the lung surrounding is compressed and collapsed. The histology of the
lesion is that of an anaplastic tumour and there is uncertainty as to its origin.
History
This man presented at the age of 63 with an 8 to 10 week history of right-sided chest pain
exacerbated by coughing and slowly increasing shortness of breath; he had a productive cough.
He had a past history of rheumatoid arthritis. At operation the chest wall was involved and several
ribs were removed together with the lung. Neither anatomically nor histologically was it possible
to say whether this was a primary undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung or an undifferentiated
sarcoma arising from the chest wall. At autopsy, four days postoperatively, no primary tumour was
identified.