Case report: Pulmonary artery sarcoma diagnosed through rare brain metastases

Abstract

We present the case of a 33-year-old male referred across several hospitals because of suspected chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Initially admitted in October 2022 for a recurrent, severe cough and diagnosed with CTEPH, he received anticoagulant therapy. However, his symptoms worsened, necessitating a transfer to another facility for thrombolysis treatment. Following an episode of syncope, an MRI scan revealed a metastatic brain tumor. Subsequently, he experienced a third transfer to our hospital, emergency surgery was performed to alleviate cerebral edema and excise a lesion in the left frontal lobe. Postoperative pathology was inconclusive, but a multidisciplinary team meeting, aided by experienced radiologists, eventually confirmed a diagnosis of pulmonary artery sarcoma (PAS) with systemic metastases. This case underscores the necessity of promptly ruling out PAS in patients presenting with significant emboli in the central pulmonary arteries and suggests early referral to specialized centers for suspected cases.