Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) is a rare tumor of mesenchymal origin which can grow to a large size and present with symptoms of cough and pleuritic chest pain. No specific etiological factors for SFTPs are known and they may grow undetected for several years. These tumors are usually benign and may mimic a variety of malignancies. SFTPs are often detected as peripheral opacities on chest X-ray. Unfortunately, fine needle aspiration rarely provides adequate information for a definitive diagnosis. Imaging with computed tomography provides details about the size and extent of any invasion into adjacent tissues. Surgical resection is the mainstay of treatment, and immunohistochemistry of the resected tumor often provides confirmation of the diagnosis. Some SFTPs have been observed to be malignant, and surgical intervention is often lifesaving. There is no adequate data to support the usage of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of SFTPs. This tumor exemplifies malignancies which require surgical resection to preempt worse outcomes. Awareness of their presentation and clinical course may help the clinician provide a prompt referral to the thoracic surgeon for resection.