A CASE REPORT OF LOCALIZED PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA WHICH WAS MISDIAGNOSED AS A CHEST WALL TUMOR

Pleural mesothelioma arise from the pleura, and can be classified into localized form and diffuse growth form. Both are rarely reported. In this paper our recent experience with a case of localized pleural mesothelioma, which was preoperatively misdiagnosed as chest wall tumor, is presented.A 58-year-old woman was pointed out to have an abnormal shadow on an chest X-ray film, although she had no complaints. With various imaging methods a chest wall tumor was suspected, subsequent needle biopsy comfirmed the diagnosis, and operation was carried out.During surgery, no tumor was found in the chest wall but smooth surfaced tumor was found on the lung surface. Pathological report disclosed that a localized pleural mesothelioma.To certify respiratory movement of the tumor or to perform artificial pneumothorax method are though to be useful to avoid misdiagnosis preoperatively.