Solitary fibrous pleural tumor
Tuesday, July 1st, 2008.
The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association. 2008 Jun;108(6):307-9. [Link]
Jenkins LA, O-Yurvati AH.
OMS IV, 3500 Camp Davie Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76107-2970, USA. lojenkin@hsc.unt.edu
Abstract
Solitary fibrous pleural tumors are rare masses of mesenchymal origin that may be mistaken for mesothelioma. A positive staining of vimentin, negative staining of cytoplasmic keratin, and expression of the CD34 antigen can confirm the presence of a solitary fibrous pleural tumor. Although most tumors of this type are benign, they possess a malignant potential and thus should be excised. We report a case of a 63-year-old man who had an inconclusive biopsy of a lung lesion 15 years ago. Further testing after excision revealed a solitary fibrous pleural tumor. A brief discussion of the clinical presentation and incidence of these tumors is included.
Glossary
- lesion
- (lee-zhun) a change in body tissue; sometimes used as another word for tumor.
- biopsy
- (buy-op-see) the removal of a sample of tissue to see whether cancer cells are present. There are several kinds of biopsies. In some, a very thin needle is used to draw fluid and cells from a lump. In a core biopsy, a larger needle is used to remove more tissue.
- benign
- (be-nine) not cancer; not malignant.
- antigen
- (an-tuh-jen) a substance that causes the body's immune system to react. This reaction often involves production of antibodies. For example, the immune system's response to antigens that are part of bacteria and viruses helps people resist infections. Cancer cells have certain antigens that can be found by laboratory tests. They are important in cancer diagnosis and in watching response to treatment. Other cancer cell antigens play a role in immune reactions that may help the body's resistance against cancer.
- tumor
- an abnormal lump or mass of tissue. Tumors can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
