Retrospective analysis for thirty-nine patients with solitary fibrous tumor of pleura and review of the literature

Abstract

BackgroundSolitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is an uncommon neoplasm arising from mesenchymal cells. The aim of this study is to summarize the experience and the outcome of the surgical treatment for 39 cases of SFTP.MethodsFrom January 2004 to December 2008, 39 patients underwent surgical resection of SFTP in our department. All patients had clinical follow-up by the same team of surgeons. The mean follow-up was 40.3 months.ResultsA local removal of the neoplasm was accomplished by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) in 9 patients (group A) and by thoracotomy in 30 patients (group B) respectively. Comparing with group B, operations in group A took significantly less operative time, blood loss and spent less time in the intensive care unit and hospital. All specimens were positive for CD34 and Bcl-2. One patient developed recurrence, and the remaining 38 patients are alive and disease free at the end of follow-up.ConclusionsMalignant SFTP still had the potential recurrence. VATS represents the more acceptable choice for the selected patients with SFTP.

Solitary fibrous tumor: a clinicopathological study of 110 cases and proposed risk assessment model

“…11,16 Consequently, studies with short followup may not accurately reflect metastatic potential of tumors with malignant histological features, 7 although even in studies with longer follow-up, tumors defined as malignant using historical criteria did not metastasize. 19 In our study, 50% of metastases occurred after 36 months, but could present up to 19 years after initial resection.…”

“…This rate was much higher than recently reported in one series of 79 cases of solitary fibrous tumor in which only 4 metastasized (5%), 10 and one of 39 pleural solitary fibrous tumor in which only 1 recurred. 19 However, older series also found higher metastatic rates in hemangiopericytoma and pleural solitary fibrous tumor-from 18 to 50%. 2,3,16,20 This variability may be due in part to differences in follow-up time as well as referral bias.…”

Solitary fibrous tumors, should they always considered to be benign gigantic masses?

“…In terms of gender although in our series sex distribution seems to be equal, Guo et al [3] reported the rate of female/male as 2.25. Median age was 44.6 in the same series where as it was 49.5 in our study group.…”

“…According to large series majority of the patients are between 40-60 years [3,5]. The major series reported recently are shown in Table 2.…”

“…Although most of the patients are asymptomatic, nonspecific symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath and cough might be seen [2][3][4][5][6][7]. Because sometimes preoperative diagnosis have difficulties, complete resection is necessary for definitive diagnosis and treatment.…”