Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: our experience

Introduction: The solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is a rare primary tumor arising from mesenchymal cells in the areolar tissue subjacent to the mesothelial-lined pleura. Material and Method: A retrospective observational study of 8 cases of SFTP diagnosed in our region through a period of 14 years. Aim: To describe the clinical and radiological characteristics, the effectiveness of the diagnosis methods and treatment options. Results: 8 patients were included; the mean age was 61 years; 75% were female and 50% were smokers or ex-smokers. 63% was asymptomatic at diagnosis. Among the symptomatic, 100% had chest pain and 33% cough or dyspnea. One patient had acropaquias. 2 patients also had been diagnosed of other malign neoplasm. CT scan was performed in all cases and in 25% there were suggestive lesions of SFTP. In 4 cases the tumor was located on the right hemithorax, 3 on the left hemithorax and 1 in anterior mediastinum. FDG-PET was performed in 3 cases, with an increased FDG uptake in one of them. In 4 cases fine needle punction-aspiration was done, without positive result. In other 4 cases trucut biopsy was performed, with a positive result in all of them. Seven of the cases were treated with surgery being wedge resection the most frequent technique (86%). The presurgical diagnosis was: SFTP 2 cases, metastasis 2 cases, hamartoma 1 case and mesenchymal tumor 1 case. The mean size was 8.7 cm (2-17). There was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis during the follow-up. Conclusions: - Most of SFTP were asymptomatic. - In most of cases, SFTP was not suspected by imaging tests. - Only 43% of our cases had pre-surgical diagnosis. - We did not have evidence of recurrence.