1997 Volume 11 Issue 6 Pages 760-764
A-67-year-old man was admitted to our hospital, because of finger clubbing and weight loss. Chest X ray film revealed a huge tumor in the right side of chest. Chest MRI (T2 weighted) suggested neither invasion to chest wall nor to abdominal cavity. Chest X-ray film, taken 4 years and 8 months before operation, was helpful for correct clinical diagnosis of localized malignant mesothelioma originating from interlobar pleura. At srugery the right lung was compressed to upper mediastinal side, but was not invaded by the tumor. After resection of the tumor, collapse of the right lung completely disappeared and no residual tumor was found macroscopically. The tumor was 18 cm in maximum diameter and 2000 g in weight, and histologically classified as locolized mesothelioma of pleura, fibrous type and low grade malignancy. Complete resection is necessary in the early stage, because the tumor tends to become huge and has a malignant potential.
