Objectives: To determine the outcomes and prognostic factors associated with pulmonary resection of pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma (PPC).

Methods: During 2008–2017, 17 patients underwent pulmonary resection for primary PPC at the Saitama Cancer Center, Japan. We investigated clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of these cases. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were determined using Kaplan–Meier method and compared using log-rank test. Univariate analysis was performed to identify prognostic factors.

Results: The 5-year OS and DFS rates were 27.2% and 51.0%, respectively. The median follow-up period was 30.8±24.9 (3.6–92.8) months after pulmonary resections. Patients with disease-free interval (DFI) <1 year of resection had poorer prognosis than those without (p = 0.001). Patients with N2 status and adenocarcinoma components had significantly poorer disease-free prognosis than their counterparts (p = 0.021 and p = 0.019, respectively). Univariate analysis revealed that DFI <1 year was an unfavorable prognostic factor for OS (p = 0.005); N2 pathological status and presence of adenocarcinoma components were unfavorable prognostic factors for DFS (p = 0.038 and p = 0.036, respectively).

Conclusion: PPC patients with an adenocarcinoma component and N2 pathological status may have an earlier relapse and poorer prognosis than their counterparts. Further assessment of cases may help clarify the predictors of PPC.