Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura: A case report

Our plain-English summary of Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura: A case report, by G. Rakovich, M. Laflamme, D. Ouellette, et al (Canadian Respiratory Journal, 2010).

The study

• Authors: G. Rakovich, M. Laflamme, D. Ouellette, G. Beauchamp
• Journal: Canadian Respiratory Journal
• Published: 2010;17(3):113-4
• Type of article: Case report
• Cited by: 7 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher · Free full text

Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura are rare pleural neoplasms that are distinct from mesothelioma. Most of them are benign, although some behave aggressively; morphological and pathological features are important in distinguishing them from mesothelioma and in predicting clinical behaviour. Solitary fibrous tumours often grow to a large size before causing symptoms, and are characteristically associated with hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy in up to 20% of cases. In cases of benign lesions, complete resection is usually curative. A case involving a 62-year-old woman who underwent surgical resection of a solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura measuring 25 cm in size is described.

In plain English

This case report described one patient, a 62-year-old woman with worsening breathlessness on exertion. The authors were based at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont in Montréal, Québec. The article stated that she was a nonsmoker with no history of asbestos exposure. Her chest x-ray showed a large shadow in the lower half of the right lung field, and a computed tomography (CT) scan showed a large solid mass in the right chest. A CT-guided needle biopsy was consistent with a solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura. Surgeons removed the tumour, which arose from the right lower lobe on a stalk of visceral pleura, the lining covering the lung. The tumour measured 25.5 cm × 17 cm × 13.5 cm and weighed 2 kg. Estimated blood loss during the operation was 1200 mL. She was discharged in good condition on postoperative day 13. Final laboratory analysis confirmed a benign solitary fibrous tumour that tested positive for the marker CD34. In their discussion of the published literature, the authors wrote that the outlook for benign lesions is excellent, although careful follow-up is necessary.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: case report (single patient), followed by a discussion of published literature
• Who was studied: One 62-year-old woman. The authors were at Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec. The article does not give the date of treatment.
• Exposure: The article states that the patient was a nonsmoker with no history of asbestos exposure.
• Main results:
  • A CT-guided core-needle biopsy was consistent with a solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura.
  • At surgery, the tumour was found to arise from the right lower lobe on a pedicle (stalk) of visceral pleura.
  • The removed tumour measured 25.5 cm × 17 cm × 13.5 cm and weighed 2 kg.
  • The estimated blood loss during the operation was 1200 mL.
  • The patient was discharged in good condition on postoperative day 13.
  • Final histological analysis confirmed a benign solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura, and immunohistochemistry was positive for CD34.
• The authors' conclusion: In their discussion of the literature, the authors wrote that the prognosis of benign lesions is excellent, although careful follow-up is necessary.

Topics

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Pleura, Neoplasm, Mesothelioma, Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteoarthropathy (HPOA), Surgical Resection.

Related studies

• Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: an estimation of population incidence — T. Thorgeirsson, H.J. Isaksson, et al. (2010)
• Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura — A. Orki, A. Kosar, et al. (2008)
• Solitary benign fibrous tumors of the pleura — M.A. Regal, A.M. Al Rubaish, et al. (2008)
• Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: a case report and review of the literature — P. Mordenti, R. Di Cicilia, et al. (2013)
• Resection of a giant, invasive malignant solitary fibrous tumor of pleura — K. Imai, K. Hirayama, et al. (2012)
• Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: 3 case reports — E. Amorim (2015)

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