Resection of a giant thoracic solitary fibrous tumor treated with preoperative arterial coiling followed by a double-level thoracotomy

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) are rare pleura neoplasms often localized to middle or inferior hemithorax. A middle-aged woman presents to the emergency department following a motor vehicle accident, the computed tomography scan revealed a giant tumor occupying the entire left pleural cavity with a complete collapse of the left lung and substantial right deviation of heart and mediastinum. Using preoperative arterial coiling followed by a double-level thoracotomy we successfully resected the giant tumor. The SFT weighed ~10 lbs. At 2-month follow-up visit patient reports mild discomfort during strenuous movement/heavy lifting but denies any shortness of breath.