title: Focal pleural tumorlike conditions: nodules and masses beyond mesotheliomas and metastasis.
abstract: A tumorlike condition of the pleura is any nonmalignant lesion of the pleura or within the pleural space that could be confused with a pleural tumor on initial imaging. Tumorlike conditions of the pleura are relatively rare compared with neoplastic lesions such as mesotheliomas and metastases. Imaging-based diagnosis of these conditions can be difficult due to the similarity of appearance. Thus, recognition of certain imaging patterns and interpretation of these patterns in the clinical context are important. Pleural endometriosis, thoracic splenosis, thoracolithiasis, foreign bodies, pleural pseudotumors and pleural plaques are significant examples of focal tumorlike conditions discussed in this article. Computed tomography is the mainstay imaging technique for the primary assessment of pleural disease, but other imaging methods, such as magnetic resonance imaging and positron-emission tomography, can be of great support in the diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: mariaclara_depaula@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Clara Fernandes
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil. Electronic address: dante.escuissato@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Dante Luiz
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Escuissato
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: lubelem@globo.com.
authors.forename: Luciana Camara
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Belém
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: glauciazanetti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Gláucia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Rio Preto and Ultra X, São José do Rio Preto, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: asouzajr@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Arthur Soares
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Santa Casa de Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Electronic address: brunohochhegger@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hochhegger
authors.affiliation: Santa Catarina Federal University, Florianópolis, Brazil. Electronic address: luizfelipenobresc@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luiz Felipe
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: edmarchiori@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Edson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchiori
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods
keywords: Computed tomography; Pleural diseases; Pleural endometriosis; Pleural esplenosis; Tumorlike conditions