CONTACTING METASTASIS OF A FIBROUS TUMOR OF THE PLEURA

A 26-year-old female with a fibrous tumor of the pleura that metastasi zed to the other site of the pleura due to contact is reported. The pr imary lesion was a 6-cm pedunculated tumor originating from the diaphr agm: the metastasis was a broad-based 1-cm tumor located on the pariet al pleura of the lateral thoracic wall, within an area in contact with the primary turner. The surrounding pleura around the small turner an d the diaphragm-the area that contacted the large tumor-was resected w ith both of the tumors under a thorascope. Despite a benign pathologic finding, a localized fibrous tumor of the pleura can then metastasize to the pleura due to contact. It was concluded that, because localize d fibrous tumors of the pleura can occasionally metastasize to the are a in contact with tumors, the intrathoracic cavity should be thoroughl y observed using a thoracoscope. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.