Summary

Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) are relatively rare neoplasms thought to originate from the submesothelial connective tissue. SFTs have been described in a variety of sites, including the pleura, orbit, lower respiratory tract, peritoneal cavity and heart. These neoplasms are usually benign, though locally aggressive, and metastatic behaviour has been observed in some cases. We describe a case of a 61-year-old man presenting with weight loss, poor appetite, malaise, worsening dyspnoea on exertion and lower extremity oedema, who was found to have a gigantic—21×21 cm—tumour occupying the entire right hemithorax causing compression and displacement of the mediastinum and liver. Transthoracic CT-guided biopsy revealed SFT of the pleura. The patient underwent preoperative angiography and embolisation of the tumour followed by successful surgical resection via thoracotomy.