Abstract
Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura were initially described as localized mesothelial proliferations, and they have been called a variety of names, including fibrous mesothelioma, benign mesothelioma, localized mesothelioma, subpleural fibroma, and localized fibrous tumor of the pleura. Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura that show no evidence of mesothelial cells should not be classified as mesotheliomas, since their mesothelial nature is not definitely established and it has been proposed to term these neoplasms “localized fibrous pleural tumors, ” since this does not imply a mesothelial nature.
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) was performed to excise a solitary fibrous tumor in three cases. Case 1: A 74-year-old-woman who had a 6.3×5.2×3.8cm tumor originating from the visceral pleura of the left upper lobe. Case 2: A 74-year-old-woman who had a 3.5 ×3.1×1.8cm tumor originating from the visceral pleura of the left lower lobe. Case 3: A 62-year-old-woman who had a 4.9×3.3×2.0cm tumor originating from the parietal pleura of the right thoracic cavity.
In cases 1 and 3, it was noted that the mass lesion on chest roentgenogram moved with changes in body position and respiration, and we made a diagnosis of pedunculated benign localized pleural tumor. Surgical removal by VATS was safely and easily performed, and the patients obtained complete cure without recurrence.
