Background: Pulmonary blastoma is a tumor with bad prognosis that is exceptionally seen before the age of 2 years.
Case report: A 3 1/2 month-old infant was admitted because she suffered from tachypnea. A left pneumothorax with shift of the mediastinum was recognized that required insertion of a chest tube followed by ventilation and pleural drainage. X rays and CT scan showed a round bullous lesion in the left lung that persisted at the age of 5 months. At that time, clinical deterioration led to thoracotomy allowing excision of a bullous tumor; histological examination showed that this tumor was a pulmonary blastoma. Recurrence of this tumor, 16 months later, required chemotherapy and surgical excision. The patient is normal at the age of 4 years.
Conclusion: Pulmonary blastoma is exceptional in infancy; it may be revealed by pneumothorax. Its bad prognosis requires aggressive therapy.