62-year-old patient with progressive dyspnea and positional left-sided thoracic pain

Abstract

A 62-year-old male patient presented with left-sided chest pain experienced in a lying position and progressive dyspnea. He had a history of thyroid carcinoma treated 22 years ago and a nodular shadow in the left lung first identified 9 years ago. He refused any further diagnostic and therapeutic measures for the nodular shadow as he had been free of symptoms. The clinical findings at presentation included labial and acral cyanosis. Breathing sounds over the lower left lung were diminished. A chest X-ray revealed a 9 x 8-cm cloudiness lateral to the left border of the heart, which was confirmed in a contrast thoracic CT evidencing a smooth surface and a wall absorbing contrast medium. Staging diagnostics indicated no further tumor manifestations. Needle biopsy showed fibrous tissue. Thoracotomy with tumor extirpation exhibited a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare cause for a nodular shadow of the lung. Clinical findings are rather nonspecific. Complete resection is the therapy of choice. Resection of functional lung tissue has to be avoided because the tumor often is pediculated.