Giant solitary fibrous tumor of the epicardium causing reversible heart failure
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Updated: May 9, 2026

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
Published on: June 14, 2016
Giacomo Bianchi1, Matteo Ferrarini, Marco Matteucci
1Cardiac Surgery Department, Ospedale del Cuore "G. Pasquinucci," Fondazione Toscana "G. Monasterio," Massa, Italy; Scuola Superiore "Sant'Anna," Institute of Life Sciencies, Pisa, Italy.
Abstract:
A 68-year-old woman with a 2-year history of dyspnea and fatigue was admitted to our hospital with a massive pericardial effusion. Computed tomography and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging revealed a huge (17 cm maximum diameter) intrapericardial mass. After successful tumor resection, a giant solitary fibrous tumour of the epicardium was diagnosed by histology. Histologic features of malignancy were absent, and the patient is alive and well 1 year after the operation, undergoing close follow-up at regular intervals. Recurrences have been exceptionally reported in benign solitary fibrous tumors, and experience with this exceptionally rare and enigmatic cardiac tumor is lacking.
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