Operative strategies for resection of pulmonary sarcomas extending into the left atrium

Pulmonary sarcomas may extend into the left atrium through the pulmonary veins, requiring the use of cardiopulmonary bypass for resection. The operative strategy for these complicated resections must account for the laterality of the tumor, the extent of atrial involvement, the severity of local invasion within the hemithorax, and intrinsic surgical heart disease, if present. We discuss these issues using an illustrative case of a patient with a right pulmonary sarcoma extending from the lateral chest wall into the left atrium.