Computed tomography of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura abutting the mediastinum: A diagnostic challenge

Background: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) arising from the mediastinal pleura may be confused with primary mediastinal tumors. We studied the computerized tomographic (CT) findings of patients with SFTP that could suggest a diagnosis of SFTP. Materials and Methods: At our hospital from January 1995 to June 2012, 39 patients with histologically confirmed SFTP were surgically treated; seven of them abutting the mediastinal pleura. The study group included seven patients aged between 53 and 81 years. Baseline CT scans were retrospectively reviewed to identify radiological findings suggestive of SFTP including: (1) smooth and sharply delineated contours; (2) obtuse, acute, or tapering angles between the lesion and the mediastinum depending on the size; (3) homogeneous soft-tissue attenuation; (4) “geographic pattern” due to the contemporary presence of large vessels, necrosis, and calcifications; (5) displacement of the lung parenchyma; (6) presence of a cleavage plane; and (7) absence of lymphadenopathy or pleural methastasis. Results: All tumors formed acute angles with the pleura. Six out of the seven presented smoothly tapering margins, three had a “geographic pattern” of attenuation and displaced the anterior junction line; one showed an outside junction line development. Four cases had a clear pleural origin. Conclusions: The possibility of SFTP should be taken into account when a mass abuts the mediastinum projecting inside the thoracic cavity in the presence of an intense and “geographical pattern” of enhancement without lymphoadenopathy or pleural metastasis. These findings assume greater significance in the presence of discrepancy between the size of the lesion and the clinical presentation.