Methods: The study included 57 patients (54 males, 3 females; mean age 60.4 years; range 33 to 75 years) operated for pleomorphic carcinoma. The patients who underwent surgery with the diagnosis of pleomorphic carcinoma in our clinic between 1999 and 2009 were recruited to the study. Datas were recorded retrospectively from the patient files.

Results: Of all patients, 54 were smokers (mean 49.9 packets/ year). Most common symptoms were hemoptysis and cough, and 51 patients were asymptomatic. All patients’ diagnoses were confirmed postoperatively as pleomorphic carcinoma. Surgical approaches applied were five parenchyma sparing resections, 35 lobectomies, seven bilobectomies, and one thoracoscopic biopsy. Of epithelial components, 28 were adenocarcinomas, 15 were epidermoid carcinomas, and six were large cell carcinomas; whereas of sarcomatoid components, 28 had spindle cells, 22 had giant cells, and seven had a mix of spindle and giant cells. At the end of the follow-up period, 28 deaths were recorded. Mean survival was 62 months.

Conclusion: Despite surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy, pleomorphic carcinoma is associated with poor prognosis because of frequent distant metastasis. Staging seems to be an important prognostic factor, particularly in N0 patients.