Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: an analysis of 13 cases

Abstract

Background: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare soft-tissue tumor. In search of appropriate diagnosis and treatment methods, we present our experience with 13 patients.

Methods: The medical charts of 13 patients treated during the last 5 years were reviewed, as well as pathological records, including immunohistochemical stains. Follow-up data were obtained. In addition, a literature review with regard to treatment and clinical outcome was performed.

Results: Our series consisted of four men and nine women with a mean age of 47 years. Two were diagnosed before operation with ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy. All patients underwent primary surgical treatment, and four of them were resected by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Seven tumors were malignant and the other six were benign. Immunohistochemical staining showed nestin was positive in three malignant solitary fibrous tumors of pleura (3/7), which were negative for CD34. Except for one, all patients were followed-up for 3 to 35 (mean, 14.5) months. Among them, one patient experienced a recurrence and one patient died of brain metastasis.

Conclusion: Ultrasonography-guided core needle biopsy combined with immunohistochemical analysis might be a safe and rapid method to provide a confirmatory diagnosis before resection. For smaller, pedunculated tumors, video-assisted thoracic surgery could be a powerful and useful approach. We speculate that CD34-negative and nestin-positive might be a malignant marker for solitary fibrous tumor of pleura.