Tumor fibroso solitario pleural de lenta evolución

the solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare neoplasm originating from submesothelial cells of the pleural membrane. its usual manifestation is as an exophytic mass that grows into the pleural cavity compressing adjacent structures. the difference with malignant pleural mesothelioma does not only lie in its histological origin, but also in the epidemiological history and clinical course of the disease. we report a patient with a giant pleural mass of 11 years of evolution, the problems arising for the diagnosis, and finally the definitive surgical treatment.