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Solitary fibrous tumor

Solitary fibrous tumor is a biology topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Solitary fibrous tumor rather than just read about it. In short: Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), also known as fibrous tumor of the pleura, is a rare mesenchymal tumor originating in the pleura or at virtually any site in the soft tissue including the seminal vesicle. Approximately 78% to 88% of SFT's are benign and 12% to 22% are malignant.

Solitary fibrous tumor — main illustration
Solitary fibrous tumor — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Solitary fibrous tumor belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Solitary fibrous tumor to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Solitary fibrous tumor from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), also known as fibrous tumor of the pleura, is a rare mesenchymal tumor originating in the pleura or at virtually any site in the soft tissue including the seminal vesicle. Approximately 78% to 88% of SFT's are benign and 12% to 22% are malignant. The World Health Organization (2020) classified SFT as a specific type of tumor in the category of malignant fibroblastic and myofibroblastic tumors.

Signs and symptoms About 80% of pleural SFTs originate in the visceral pleura, while 20% arise from parietal pleura. Although they are often very large tumors—up to 40 centimetres (16 in) in diameter—over half are asymptomatic at diagnosis. While some researchers have proposed that a SFT occupying at least 40% of the affected hemithorax be considered a "giant solitary fibrous tumor", no such "giant" variant has yet been recognized within the most widely used pleural tumor classification scheme.

Pathophysiology Recurrent somatic fusions of the two genes, NGFI-A–binding protein 2 (NAB2) and STAT6, located at chromosomal region 12q13, have been identified in solitary fibrous tumors.

Treatment The treatment of choice for both benign and malignant SFT is complete en bloc surgical resection.

Prognosis Prognosis in benign SFTs is excellent. About 8% will recur after first resection, with the recurrence usually cured after additional surgery. The prognosis in malignant SFTs is much more guarded. Approximately 63% of patients will have a recurrence of their tumor, of which more than half will succumb to disease progression within two years. Adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy in malignant SFT remains controversial.

History SFT was first mentioned in the scientific literature by Wagner. The first discussion of its clinical and pathological properties was by Klemperer and Rabin. SFTs have also been known as hemangiopericytomas although this term has now been discontinued from WHO tumor classifications. Over the years pleural SFTs acquired a number of synonyms, including localized fibrous tumor, benign mesothelioma, localized fibrous mesothelioma, submesothelial fibroma, and pleural fibroma. The use of names that include mesothelioma for this tumor is discouraged because of potential confusion with diffuse malignant mesothelioma, a much more serious disease.

See also Hemangiopericytoma Myopericytoma

Additional images

References

External links

Illustrations

Solitary fibrous tumor illustration
Solitary fibrous tumor: This PA chest radiograph demonstrates an abnormal contour in the right hilar region, with visualization of the pulmonary vessels through the mass (the hilar overlay sign) indicating its posterior mediastinal location. On resection this was found to be a benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.
This PA chest radiograph demonstrates an abnormal contour in the right hilar region, with visualization of the pulmonary vessels through the mass (the hilar overlay sign) indicating its posterior mediastinal location. On resection this was found to be a benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.
Solitary fibrous tumor: This axial CT image with intravenous contrast (same patient as in the above chest radiograph) reveals what appears to be a posterior mediastinal mass, which was surgically removed and found to be a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.
This axial CT image with intravenous contrast (same patient as in the above chest radiograph) reveals what appears to be a posterior mediastinal mass, which was surgically removed and found to be a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura.
Solitary fibrous tumor illustration
Solitary fibrous tumor illustration

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Solitary fibrous tumor

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Solitary fibrous tumor claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Solitary fibrous tumor before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Solitary fibrous tumor ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Solitary fibrous tumor

In research
Solitary fibrous tumor appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Solitary fibrous tumor in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Solitary fibrous tumor is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Pleura neoplasia, Rare diseases, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Solitary fibrous tumor outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.
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How to study Solitary fibrous tumor in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Solitary fibrous tumor means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Solitary fibrous tumor out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Solitary fibrous tumor in simple terms?

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), also known as fibrous tumor of the pleura, is a rare mesenchymal tumor originating in the pleura or at virtually any site in the soft tissue including the seminal vesicle. Approximately 78% to 88% of SFT's are benign and 12% to 22% are malignant.

Why does Solitary fibrous tumor matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Solitary fibrous tumor?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Solitary fibrous tumor.

Tags

  • Pleura neoplasia
  • Rare diseases

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