Giant fibrous tumor misdiagnosed as traumatic hemothorax

Acta Chir Belg. 2008 Nov-Dec;108(6):771-3. doi: 10.1080/00015458.2008.11680337.

Abstract

Solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura are neoplasms of the mesenchymal tissue of the pleural mesothelium. The most frequent symptoms are dyspnea, coughing and chest pain. A 45-year-old female patient presented after a thoracic contusion. A radio-opaque image was evidenced on chest X-ray. At the initial hospital, a hemorrhagic fluid was aspirated at thoracocentesis and the patient was transferred to our hospital with diagnosis of traumatic hemothorax. A thoracic CT showed a tumoral formation filling two-thirds of the left hemithorax. The transthoracic biopsy finding was compatible with a fibrous tumor. The patient was taken for surgery and the large pleural tumor was excised. In conclusion, a large pleural fibrous tumor was initially mistaken for hemothorax. A CT-scan revealed the tumoral nature of the thoracic opacity.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Accidental Falls
  • Female
  • Hemothorax / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnosis
  • Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / diagnosis*
  • Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / diagnostic imaging
  • Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed