JUSTIN C.K. DAVIS, M.D.: Hi. My name is Dr. Justin Davis. Today, I would like to tell you a little bit about pleuropulmonary blastoma. Pleuropulmonary blastoma is a rare childhood cancer that occurs in the chest, more specifically in the lining called the pleura surrounding the lungs. While pleuropulmonary blastoma can occur in older children or adults, it is very unusual. It almost always occurs in children younger than ages 8 years old. Now, there are three main types of pleuropulmonary blastoma. There can be the kind that only forms cysts. These are little air pockets on or around the lungs. The other two types are ones that have cyst and solid tumors, and then the third kind is when there are solid tumors and no cysts at all. Of these three types, the kind that only has cysts is the most curable, and when caught in a fairly timely fashion, has an 80% cure rate. The other two, while less curable, still have a good recovery rate and the cure is usually obtained in around 50% to 70% of the time. Now what are the symptoms? Usually sudden onset of cough or perhaps even a bloody cough, shortness of breath, or complaint of chest pain. Now usually, because this is such a rare and unexpected condition in children, when it first presents, it often misdiagnosed even after getting a chest x-ray as a pneumonia. Often, children will go for about two or three weeks being treated for a pneumonia that just does not seem to get better before being correctly diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma. Preventing it is impossible because we have no idea what may cause it, but what is important is if your child seems to manifest any of the symptoms that we talk about, always take them right away to see their pediatrician or family-practice doctor. Usually the treatment for pleuropulmonary blastoma will include a combination of surgery as well as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Your oncologist will discuss with you the treatment options specifically if you or your child is diagnosed with pleuropulmonary blastoma. The good news again is that most cases can be completely cured when caught in a timely fashion. Because of the way it presents, it usually is caught fairly early. But remember, if your or anyone you know presents with any of the symptoms that we discussed for pleuropulmonary blastoma, it is very important no matter what the cause to have them diagnosed by a doctor right away.
