Contralateral recurrence of a malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura

Abstract

We present an unusual case of a contralateral recurrence of malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP) nine years after a complete resection. Recurrence of malignant SFTP has already been described, but is usually localized. In our case the patient underwent surgical resection for a malignant SFTP of the left upper lobe in 2000. Nine years later computed tomography (CT)-scans showed lesions that were suspicious of tumor recurrence in the right lung. Thoracoscopy, wedge-resections and pathological findings revealed four nodules of a malignant SFTP of the right middle and lower lobe, histopathologically identical to the tumor, which had been resected nine years ago. A coincidental mucinous bronchioloalveolar carcinoma of the left lower lobe was resected by thoracotomy. To our knowledge this is the first report of contralateral recurrence of a malignant SFTP years after complete resection in the literature. The possibility of a new primary tumor on the right with local metastasis could not be excluded in the clinical and histopathological examinations. Therefore, contralateral recurrence of malignant SFTP should be considered in the postoperative follow-up even years after complete resection.