Massive malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the diaphragm: A case report

Malignant solitary fibrous tumor (MSFT) of the diaphragm is extremely rare, and to the best of our knowledge, only three cases have been reported in the past two decades. In all these cases, the diaphragms were usually reconstructed with artificial diaphragm patch because of the extensive resection.

We reported a male patient with complaints of dyspnea, chest pain and massive pleural effusion in the left chest detected by chest X-ray. A huge mass of 20 × 20 cm was seen in the left lower chest in the computed tomography (CT) scan.

The diagnosis of MSFT originating in the diaphragm was made by post-operative immunohistochemical examination.

After draining 4000 ml of pleural effusion by Pleurx catheter to relieve the pressure symptom, the patient underwent en-block resection by left posterolateral thoracotomy. A pedicle tumor originating in the left diaphragm was found, which was smooth, lobular, did not invade surrounding tissues or organs, and received blood supply from the left phrenic vessels. The diaphragm was successfully sutured without tension and did not require artificial reconstruction as the defect was small.

After 2 months follow-up, the left lung was restored to normalcy, and no pleural effusion or new occupying neoplasm was found in follow-up CT.