title: Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura presenting with syncope episodes when coughing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rarely encountered clinical entity which may have different clinical pictures. Although the majority of these neoplasms have a benign course, the malignant form has also been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We herein describe a case of 72 year-old man with head, facial, and thoracic traumas caused by neurally-mediated situational syncope when coughing. The diagnostic work-up including chest x-ray, CT and PET, revealed a large solitary mass of the left hemithorax. Radical surgical resection of the mass was performed through a left lateral thoracotomy and completed with a wedge resection of the lingula. Hystological examination of the surgical specimen showed an encapsulated mass measuring 12 x 11.5 x 6 cm consistent with a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura. It's surgical removal definitively resolved the neurologic manifestations. The patient had no postoperative complications. At two years follow-up the patient is free from recurrence and without clinical manifestations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our case its resection definitively resolved the episodes of situational syncope due, in our opinion, to the large thoracic mass compressing the phrenic nerve.
authors: Department of Surgery, Thoracic Unit, Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, IRCCS, Milan, Italy. luigi.santambrogio@unimi.it
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Santambrogio
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Nosotti
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Palleschi
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Rosso
authors: Davide
authors: D
authors: Tosi
authors: Matilde
authors: M
authors: De Simone
authors: Michele M
authors: MM
authors: Ciulla
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Maggioni
authors: Ugo
authors: U
authors: Cioffi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003371:Cough / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000209:etiology*; D010791:Phrenic Nerve; D054363:Solitary Fibrous Tumor, Pleural / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology*