Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical features of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) in the thorax and its optimal surgical approaches. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 16 patients with SFT in the thorax in our hospital between January 2004 and June 2010. There were 8 males and 8 females, with a median age of 49 years (1973 years). Laboratory examination showed normal results. Chest Xray and computed tomographic scan revealed lung tumor in 8 cases, mediastinal mass in 3 cases, fibrous tumor in 2 cases, pleural mass in 2 cases, and retroperitoneal mass in 1 case. Five patients underwent CT guided biopsy or thoracoscopy, and 3 of them were diagnosed to have SFT. There was no clear diagnosis for the remaining 13 cases before operation. None of them had been exposed to asbestos. Symptoms were present in 5 patients. All patients underwent surgical treatment with resection performed through routine thoracotomy in 10 cases and by means of videoassisted thoracoscopy in 6 cases. The tumors originated from the visceral pleura in 12 patients, from parietal pleura in 3 patients (from diaphragmatic pleura in 1, and costal pleura in 2), and from the lung in 1 patient. Results All tumors were totally excised. Immunohistochemical staining showed CD34 was positive in all tumors. There was no postoperative mortality and no major complications. All patients were regularly rechecked and followed up. The followup was ranged from 1 to 72 months, with a median time of 21 months. During the followup, all patients survived and no recurrence was observed by means of chest X radiography or CT. Conclusion SFT tumors in the thorax are rare neoplasms and can have giant diameters. Wide local excision is recommended as the best therapeutic option. The SFT has the possibility of recurrence, and careful longterm clinical followup is required.
Citation: HAN Zhijun,REN Hua,LI Shanqing,et al. Diagnosis and Surgical Treatment for Solitary Fibrous Tumor in the Thorax. Chinese Journal of Clinical Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 2011, 18(3): 227-230. doi: Copy