Mediastinal Solitary Fibrous Tumor: Report of a Case with Direct Invasion to the Trachea

Mesenchymal tumours of the mediastinum--part I

The mediastinum is an anatomically defined space in which organs and major blood vessels reside with surrounding soft tissue elements. The thymus is an important organ in the mediastinum, and many of the masses encountered in the mediastinum are related to this organ. Most neoplasms diagnosed in the mediastinum are epithelial tumours (thymomas and thymic carcinomas), lymphomas or germ cell tumours. In contrast, soft tissue tumours of the mediastinum are rare. In 1963, Pachter and Lattes systematically reviewed soft tissue pathology of the mediastinum, covering the hitherto described [2, 226, 227] In this review, based on the 2013 WHO classification of soft tissue tumours and the 2015 WHO classification of tumours of the lung, pleura, thymus and heart, we provide an updated overview of mesenchymal tumours that may be encountered in the mediastinum.

Mediastinal solitary fibrous tumor with right diaphragm invasion: report of a case

Mediastinal solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rarely found in adults and there are few reports describing primary mediastinal SFT invading the diaphragm. We report the case of a 47-year-old woman with a large right inferior mediastinal SFT. Magnetic resonance imaging showed the tumor invading the right lower lobe of the lung and the right hemidiaphragm, with displacement of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right lobe of the liver. Angiogram showed IVC stenosis. To our knowledge, this is the first report of complete resection of the tumor combined with right lower lobectomy of the lung and partial resection and reconstruction of the right diaphragm with a Dacron flap.

[A rare tracheal tumour: solitary fibroma]

INTRODUCTION

Solitary fibromas are rare anatomo-pathological entities, described initially in the pleural cavity. The mesenchymal origin of these tumours explains their widespread distribution.

CASE REPORT

The authors report a case of solitary fibroma of the trachea in a woman of 30 years of age, presenting as acute respiratory distress and preceded by a 2 year history of episodes of dyspnoea diagnosed as unstable asthma. CT and MRI imaging showed evidence of a localised tracheal tumour without mediastinal infiltration. The images and macroscopic appearances were non-specific. Bronchoscopic resection of the tumour gave immediate relief of the symptoms. Histology, which was positive for anti-CD34 antibodies and negative for epithelial, muscular and neurological markers, led to a diagnosis of solitary fibroma with no evidence of malignancy.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this observation is the first description of a primary solitary fibroma localised to the trachea. The clinical and radiological features are no different from those of other tracheal tumours. After excision, the prognosis is good but long-term follow-up is necessary on account of the risk of local recurrence or metastasis.