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Primary pulmonary meningioma: a case report and literature review
Dilare Aximu1,2,3, Lingze Hu1,2,3, Qianqian Yang4
1Department of Medical Imaging, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
Introduction And Importance:
We report the case of a 40-year-old asymptomatic woman with incidentally detected primary pulmonary meningioma (PPM), underscoring its relevance in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules.
Case Presentation:
A 40-year-old asymptomatic woman was found to have a left subpleural pulmonary nodule (11 × 9 × 8 mm) on routine follow-up imaging. Computed tomography findings and a preoperative needle biopsy suggested a diagnosis of meningioma. Video-assisted thoracoscopic resection of the left lower lobe was performed, and histopathological examination confirmed PPM. The postoperative course was uneventful, and no recurrence or metastasis was observed during follow-up.
Clinical Discussion:
Given the tumor's location and histological appearance, alternative diagnoses - including inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor - were excluded through immunohistochemical analysis. Surgical resection remains the definitive treatment for PPM, whereas the benefit of adjuvant therapy is unclear due to limited available evidence.
Conclusion:
PPM usually presents as an asymptomatic, solitary, or occasionally multiple, well-circumscribed pulmonary nodule. Needle biopsy alone may result in misdiagnosis due to sampling limitations. Definitive diagnosis requires a combination of immunohistochemical analysis (e.g., SSTR2) and evaluation of the complete surgical specimen.
Insights
Primary pulmonary meningioma (PPM) is a rare tumor that can mimic other lung nodules. This case highlights the importance of considering PPM in the differential diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodules.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Primary pulmonary meningioma (PPM) is a rare tumor, often presenting as an incidental finding.
- It can be mistaken for other solitary pulmonary nodules, complicating diagnosis.
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