Abstract:
A case of a primary pulmonary malignant hemangiopericytoma occurring in the left upper lobe of a 35 yr old woman is reported. Possible myoblastic differentiation was noted in some areas of the tumor, which may lend support to Zimmerman's original theory on the function of the pericyte, i.e., that it is a modified smooth muscle cell which alters the size of the capillary lumen. This is only the 20th reported case and only the 3rd to metastasize. The patient succumbed to cerebral and hepatic metastases 2 mth after surgery. These tumors are usually radio resistant. A brief review of the reported cases is presented.