Pleural nodule with osteal protrusion anterior to the rib tubercle: a case report

Pleural soft tissue density nodules with osteal protrusions are often detected at their characteristic site, the anterior portion of the rib tubercle. Herein, we report a pathologically proven case of this lesion. A 65-year-old man underwent surgery for primary lung cancer in the right middle lobe. Preoperative computed tomography showed a 10-mm pleural soft tissue density nodule with osteal protrusion anterior to the tubercle of the right sixth rib, and this lesion was concomitantly resected. Intraoperative findings showed that this pleural lesion originated from the parietal pleura and was pathologically diagnosed as a benign fibrous tissue. We can avoid unnecessary invasive examinations such as biopsies by recognizing these benign fibrous lesions.