What is Solitary Fibrous Tumour of the Pleura?
Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare type of tumor that arises from the mesenchymal tissues of the pleural membrane. It can be a benign or malignant tumor with a well-defined round shape on a chest x-ray. Pleura are outer protective layers of the lungs.Disease Causes
There is no well-known cause, however certain heredity and genetic mutations are considered responsible for the development of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.Signs and Symptoms
The patient may have the following signs and symptoms. These are;- Pain in the lower region of back or pain in the chest
- Persistent cough
- Shortness of breath ( suffocation or difficulty in breathing)
- Unexplained weight loss
- Edema ( swelling) of face and arms
- Voice hoarseness
- Dysphagia ( difficulty in swallowing solid or liquid food)
- Sweating
Diagnosis
Diagnosis can be made by collecting a complete medical history, especially in the workplace and exposure history, and through diagnostic tests and procedures. These are;- Imaging techniques like Chest X-ray, CT-scan, MRI, and PET scan to see the site, size, and extent of the tumor.
- Tumor biopsy ( lung tumor biopsy to remove a small sample of lung tissue for histopathological examination)
- Thoracoscopy
- USG guided fine needle aspiration cytology
- Thoracocentesis (it is a procedure used to remove a sample of fluid or air from the pleural cavity for diagnosis or to select a treatment method with a syringe and needle).