Feasibility of Endovascular Catheter Biopsy as a Diagnostic Modality for Patients With Pulmonary Artery Sarcoma: Case Series of a Single-Center Experience

Pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) is a rare but lethal malignant neoplasm that often mimics pulmonary artery embolism. However, owing to its rarity as well as fatality, there has been no firm consensus with regard to the standard diagnostic tool. We evaluate the feasibility of endovascular catheter biopsy as a diagnostic modality for PAS. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with histologically confirmed PAS between 2000 and 2016 at Asan Medical Center. Among a total of 25 patients with PAS, 5 patients underwent endovascular catheter biopsy and 3 of them were successfully diagnosed with PAS, while 2 patients underwent either endobronchial ultrasonography-transbronchial needle aspiration or surgical biopsy after failure of endovascular biopsy. There were no acute or fatal complications of endovascular catheter biopsy such as bleeding or pulmonary infarction. In conclusion, we suggest the endovascular catheter biopsy is an effective and safe diagnostic tool for patients with PAS, when clinically indicated.