Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura

  • Short Communication
  • Published:
Medical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin which can grow to a large size and present with symptoms of cough and pleuritic chest pain. No specific etiological factors for SFTPs are known and they may grow undetected for several years. These tumors are usually benign and may mimic a variety of malignancies. SFTPs are often detected as peripheral opacities on chest X-ray. Unfortunately, fine needle aspiration rarely provides adequate information for a definitive diagnosis. Imaging with computed tomography provides details about the size and extent of any invasion into adjacent tissues. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, and immunohistochemistry of the resected tumor often provides confirmation of the diagnosis. Some SFTPs have been observed to be malignant, and surgical intervention is often lifesaving. There is no adequate data to support the usage of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of SFTPs. This tumor exemplifies malignancies which require surgical resection to preempt worse outcomes. Awareness of their presentation and clinical course may help the clinician provide a prompt referral to the thoracic surgeon for resection.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

References

  1. Klemperer P, Rabin LB. Primary neoplasms of the pleura. A report of five cases. Arch Pathol. 1931;11:385–412.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Klemperer P, Coleman BR. Primary neoplasms of the pleura. A report of five cases. Am J Ind Med. 1992;22(1):1–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hernandez FJ, Fernandez BB. Localized fibrous tumors of pleura: a light and electron microscopic study. Cancer. 1974;34(5):1667–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Al-Izzi M, Thurlow NP, Corrin B. Pleural mesothelioma of connective tissue type, localized fibrous tumour of the pleura, and reactive submesothelial hyperplasia. An immunohistochemical comparison. J Pathol. 1989;158(1):41–4. doi:10.1002/path.1711580109.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Lococo F, Cesario A, Mule A, Margaritora S. Malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the esophagus. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2011;39(4):595–7. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2010.07.031.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. de Perrot M, Fischer S, Brundler MA, Sekine Y, Keshavjee S. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;74(1):285–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cardillo G, Lococo F, Carleo F, Martelli M. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura. Curr Opin Pulm Med. 2012;18(4):339–46. doi:10.1097/MCP.0b013e328352f696.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Okike N, Bernatz PE, Woolner LB. Localized mesothelioma of the pleura: benign and malignant variants. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1978;75(3):363–72.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Mitchell JD. Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;15(3):305–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Magdeleinat P, Alifano M, Petino A, Le Rochais JP, Dulmet E, Galateau F, Icard P, Regnard JF. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and outcome. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2002;21(6):1087–93.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Sung SH, Chang JW, Kim J, Lee KS, Han J, Park SI. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: surgical outcome and clinical course. Ann Thorac Surg. 2005;79(1):303–7. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2004.07.013.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Jha V, Gil J, Teirstein AS. Familial solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: a case report. Chest. 2005;127(5):1852–4. doi:10.1378/chest.127.5.1852.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. England DM, Hochholzer L, McCarthy MJ. Localized benign and malignant fibrous tumors of the pleura. A clinicopathologic review of 223 cases. Am J Surg Pathol. 1989;13(8):640–58.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Suter M, Gebhard S, Boumghar M, Peloponisios N, Genton CY. Localized fibrous tumours of the pleura: 15 new cases and review of the literature. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1998;14(5):453–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Cardinale L, Ardissone F, Garetto I, Marci V, Volpicelli G, Solitro F, Fava C. Imaging of benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: a pictorial essay. Rare Tumors. 2010;2(1):e1. doi:10.4081/rt.2010.e1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Santos RS, Haddad R, Lima CE, Liu YL, Misztal M, Ferreira T, Boasquevisque CH, Luketich JD, Landreneau RJ. Patterns of recurrence and long-term survival after curative resection of localized fibrous tumors of the pleura. Clin Lung Cancer. 2005;7(3):197–201.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Kohler M, Clarenbach CF, Kestenholz P, Kurrer M, Steinert HC, Russi EW, Weder W. Diagnosis, treatment and long-term outcome of solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2007;32(3):403–8. doi:10.1016/j.ejcts.2007.05.027.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Cardillo G, Carbone L, Carleo F, Masala N, Graziano P, Bray A, Martelli M. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: an analysis of 110 patients treated in a single institution. Ann Thorac Surg. 2009;88(5):1632–7. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2009.07.026.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Guo W, Xiao HL, Jiang YG, Wang RW, Zhao YP, Ma Z, Niu HJ. Retrospective analysis for thirty-nine patients with solitary fibrous tumor of pleura and review of the literature. World J Surg Oncol. 2011;9:134. doi:10.1186/1477-7819-9-134.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Enon S, Kilic D, Yuksel C, Kayi Cangir A, Percinel S, Sak SD, Gungor A, Kavukcu S, Okten I. Benign localized fibrous tumor of the pleura: report of 25 new cases. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2012;60(7):468–73. doi:10.1055/s-0031-1295519.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Lococo F, Cesario A, Cardillo G, Filosso P, Galetta D, Carbone L, Oliaro A, Spaggiari L, Cusumano G, Margaritora S, Graziano P, Granone P. Malignant solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: retrospective review of a multicenter series. J Thorac Oncol. 2012;7(11):1698–706. doi:10.1097/JTO.0b013e3182653d64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. van de Rijn M, Lombard CM, Rouse RV. Expression of CD34 by solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura, mediastinum, and lung. Am J Surg Pathol. 1994;18(8):814–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Flint A, Weiss SW. CD-34 and keratin expression distinguishes solitary fibrous tumor (fibrous mesothelioma) of pleura from desmoplastic mesothelioma. Hum Pathol. 1995;26(4):428–31.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Chan JK. Solitary fibrous tumour—everywhere, and a diagnosis in vogue. Histopathology. 1997;31(6):568–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Wu M, Chen RK, Gurung L. Giant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005;53(3):185–8. doi:10.1055/s-2004-830471.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. de Perrot M, Kurt AM, Robert JH, Borisch B, Spiliopoulos A. Clinical behavior of solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura. Ann Thorac Surg. 1999;67(5):1456–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Robinson LA. Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Cancer Control. 2006;13(4):264–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Saifuddin A, Da Costa P, Chalmers AG, Carey BM, Robertson RJ. Primary malignant localized fibrous tumours of the pleura: clinical, radiological and pathological features. Clin Radiol. 1992;45(1):13–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Rena O, Filosso PL, Papalia E, Molinatti M, Di Marzio P, Maggi G, Oliaro A. Solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura: surgical treatment. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2001;19(2):185–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Balduyck B, Lauwers P, Govaert K, Hendriks J, De Maeseneer M, Van Schil P. Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura with associated hypoglycemia: Doege–Potter syndrome: a case report. J Thorac Oncol. 2006;1(6):588–90.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Zafar H, Takimoto CH, Weiss G. Doege–Potter syndrome: hypoglycemia associated with malignant solitary fibrous tumor. Med Oncol. 2003;20(4):403–8. doi:10.1385/MO:20:4:403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Filosso PL, Asioli S, Ruffini E, Rovea P, Macri L, Sapino A, Bretti S, Lyberis P, Oliaro A. Radical resection of a giant, invasive and symptomatic malignant solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) of the pleura. Lung Cancer. 2009;64(1):117–20. doi:10.1016/j.lungcan.2008.10.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Chang YL, Lee YC, Wu CT. Thoracic solitary fibrous tumor: clinical and pathological diversity. Lung Cancer. 1999;23(1):53–60.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Ferretti GR, Chiles C, Choplin RH, Coulomb M. Localized benign fibrous tumors of the pleura. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 1997;169(3):683–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Ferretti GR, Chiles C, Cox JE, Choplin RH, Coulomb M. Localized benign fibrous tumors of the pleura: MR appearance. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1997;21(1):115–20.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Gold JS, Antonescu CR, Hajdu C, Ferrone CR, Hussain M, Lewis JJ, Brennan MF, Coit DG. Clinicopathologic correlates of solitary fibrous tumors. Cancer. 2002;94(4):1057–68. doi:10.1002/cncr.10328.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Cardillo G, Facciolo F, Cavazzana AO, Capece G, Gasparri R, Martelli M. Localized (solitary) fibrous tumors of the pleura: an analysis of 55 patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 2000;70(6):1808–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Nomori H, Horio H, Fuyuno G, Morinaga S. Contacting metastasis of a fibrous tumor of the pleura. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 1997;12(6):928–30.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Weiss B, Horton DA. Preoperative embolization of a massive solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Ann Thorac Surg. 2002;73(3):983–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Veronesi G, Spaggiari L, Mazzarol G, De Pas M, Leo F, Solli P, Pastorino U. Huge malignant localized fibrous tumor of the pleura. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino). 2000;41(5):781–4.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Harrison-Phipps KM, Nichols FC, Schleck CD, Deschamps C, Cassivi SD, Schipper PH, Allen MS, Wigle DA, Pairolero PC. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura: results of surgical treatment and long-term prognosis. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009;138(1):19–25. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2009.01.026.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Park SB, Park YS, Kim JK, Kim MH, Oh YT, Kim KA, Cho KS. Solitary fibrous tumor of the genitourinary tract. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2011;196(2):W132–7. doi:10.2214/AJR.09.3787.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA

    Creticus P. Marak

  2. Department of Pathology, Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Yeshiva University, New York, NY, USA

    Olena Dorokhova

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 50 Fruit Street, Boston, MA, USA

    Achuta K. Guddati

Authors
  1. Creticus P. Marak
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Olena Dorokhova
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Achuta K. Guddati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Achuta K. Guddati.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Marak, C.P., Dorokhova, O. & Guddati, A.K. Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Med Oncol 30, 573 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-013-0573-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-013-0573-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation