Huge malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.

INTRODUCTION

Solitary fibrous pleural tumors are rare mesenchymal tumors that can be mistaken for mesothelioma. A positive staining of vimentin, negative staining of cytoplasmic keratin, and expression of the CD34 antigen can confirm their diagnosis. These tumors should be surgically excised although they are benign because they have malignant potential and tendency for recurrence.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We present here a 63-year-old patient who had an inconclusive biopsy of a huge right intrathoracic lesion. Further testing after radical surgical resection revealed a malignant solitary fibrous pleural tumor. Surgery was complicated with injury of the thoracic duct. Patient was re-operated upon for ligation of the thoracic duct. He is doing well with no recurrence after 18 months of follow-up.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, definitive treatment for solitary fibrous tumor is radical surgical resection with close follow-up for the recurrences. Follow-up of this tumor is essential especially when it showed malignant features on pathological examination.