Background: A large solitary fibrous tumour of the pleura (SFTP) is a very rare occurrence. The aim of this study was to retrospectively review the clinical characteristics, surgical treatment and outcome of patients with a large SFTP operated on in our General Thoracic Surgery Unit.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical records of six patients who underwent surgery for a huge SFTP between 1998 and 2004.
Results: Six patients (four men and two women, mean age 73.3 years) with a large SFTP (mean diameter 20.3 and mean weight 1265 g) underwent surgery during this period with full excision of the tumour. Five tumours were excised together with the implantation basis, and in one case extended resection with pneumonectomy was performed. The presentation symptoms resolved in all cases after surgery.
Conclusions: Despite the huge size of these tumours (giant SFTP), surgical resection is an acceptable method of treatment in elderly patients with low morbidity and mortality rates.