Five new cases of solitary fibrous mesothelioma of the visceral pleura support this review of the literature. Well encapsulated and usually pediculated, these tumours remain asymptomatic for a long time and are in most cases an incidental finding on radiographs of the chest. The precise site of the tumour can be identified by artificial pneumothorax. Some large tumours are accompanied by extrathoracic signs, i.e. hypoglycemia and hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy. Histological examination discloses whorls of collagen fibres with scattered spindle-shaped cells. Electron microscopy reveals characteristic features of both fibroblasts and mesothelial cells. Complete surgical removal is the best treatment of localized fibrous mesotheliomas of the visceral pleura. Post-surgical recurrences are rare, and late recurrences (up to 16 years after excision) are usually benign and of good prognosis.