[The analysis on the misdiagnosis of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura].

Objective: To report the characteristics of solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura (SFTP), and to analyze the factors associated with the misdiagnosis of this disease.

Methods: A retrospective review of the clinical records of 21 cases of SFTP in our hospital from June 2000 to September 2008 was conducted. The follow-up data were also reviewed.

Results: The preoperative diagnosis was pleural mesothelioma in 7 cases, neurogenic tumor in 6, lung cancer in 4, SFTP in 2, hilar lymph node tuberculosis in 1 and inflammatory granuloma in 1 case. All the cases underwent radical resection, and postoperative pathology and immunohistochemical study were performed, and the diagnosis of benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura was confirmed. Follow-up periods ranged from 3 months to 8 years (median, 43 months). Two cases were lost, and the remaining 19 cases reported no recurrence or metastasis.

Conclusion: The recognition of the clinical characteristics of pleural solitary fibrous tumor is essential for improving the diagnosis of this uncommon disease.