[Benign fibrous mesothelioma: report of 8 cases]

Benign fibrous mesothelioma (BFM) is a primary, isolated tumor of the pleura. In 80% of patients the tumor originates in the visceral pleura. BFM is rare and localized malignant mesothelioma, whose prognosis and treatment is significantly different, must be considered as a differential diagnosis. We report 8 cases of BFM excised by thoracotomy. In 6 asymptomatic patients, diagnosis was based on radiological images. One patient with a large tumor suffered dyspnea, acropachia and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. The last patient experienced long-lasting chest pain even though the tumor was small (3 x 3 x 1 cm). Diagnosis was before thoracotomy in 3 cases, 2 by punch biopsy (tru-cut) and the other by thoracoscopy. The results of pleural fluid analysis were nonspecific in 2 of the 3 cases in which pleural effusion was present. Thoracotomy allowed removal of the entire tumor in all patients.