benign fibrous mesothelioma

Benign Fibrous Mesothelioma: A Rare and Treatable Form of Mesothelioma

Benign fibrous mesothelioma, also known as solitary fibrous tumor (SFT), is a rare and non-cancerous form of mesothelioma. It is a type of tumor that grows in the lining of the lung and chest cavity, an area called the pleura.

Characteristics:

• Benign fibrous mesothelioma is a primary, isolated tumor of the pleura.
• In 80% of patients, the tumor originates in the visceral pleura (the layer of tissue that lines the lungs).
• The tumor grows slowly and does not spread to distant areas of the body.
• It can be pedunculated, meaning it has a stalk-like appearance.

Symptoms:

• Benign fibrous mesothelioma is often asymptomatic in its early stages.
• When symptoms do occur, they may include:
  • Pleural effusion (fluid accumulation in the pleural space)
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Shortness of breath

Treatment and Prognosis:

• Treatment for benign fibrous mesothelioma typically involves surgery to remove the tumor.
• The prognosis is excellent, with most patients experiencing a complete recovery.

References:

• [8] Benign fibrous mesothelioma (BFM) is a primary, isolated tumor of the pleura. In 80% of patients the tumor originates in the visceral pleura.
• [14] Solitary fibrous tumors are soft tissue tumors that can form anywhere in your body. Most are noncancerous but, rarely, they can be cancerous.

Note: The information provided is based on the search results and may not reflect the most up-to-date or comprehensive information available.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Benign Fibrous Mesothelioma

Benign fibrous mesothelioma, also known as localized fibrous tumor, is a rare non-cancerous condition that affects the pleura, the lining of the lungs. While symptoms can vary from person to person, here are some common signs and symptoms associated with this condition:

• No symptoms at all: In many cases, people with benign fibrous mesothelioma may not experience any symptoms at all, and the tumor is discovered during treatment for another condition [12].
• Chest pain or discomfort: Some individuals may feel chest pain or discomfort, which can be a sign of the tumor growing to a large size and pushing on the lung [13].
• Shortness of breath (dyspnea): As the tumor grows, it can cause shortness of breath, which comes on slowly and gets worse over time [9].
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia): In some cases, people with benign fibrous mesothelioma may experience difficulty swallowing due to the tumor pressing on the esophagus.
• Lumps in the chest area: A lump or mass may be felt in the chest area, which can be a sign of the tumor [9].
• Abdominal pain and swelling: In rare cases, benign fibrous mesothelioma can occur in the abdomen, causing abdominal pain and swelling [11].

It's essential to note that these symptoms can also be caused by other conditions, so it's crucial to consult with a doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Benign fibrous mesothelioma is generally not fatal, but prompt medical attention is necessary to ensure proper treatment and management of the condition.

References: [9] - Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma. [12] - Symptoms of benign vs. malignant mesothelioma. [13] - About one half of the people with this type of tumor do not show any symptoms.

Benign fibrous mesothelioma can be challenging to diagnose, but various diagnostic tests can help confirm the condition. Here are some of the key diagnostic tests for benign fibrous mesothelioma:

• Biopsy: A biopsy is the only definitive test that can confirm benign fibrous mesothelioma. It involves removing a small sample of tissue from the affected area and examining it under a microscope.
• CT scan of the chest: A CT scan can help identify the location and extent of the tumor, but it cannot definitively diagnose benign fibrous mesothelioma.
• Open lung biopsy: This is a more invasive procedure that involves removing a larger sample of tissue from the affected area. It can provide more detailed information about the tumor and its characteristics.
• Pulmonary function tests: These tests can help assess the functioning of the lungs and determine if there are any abnormalities.

It's worth noting that benign fibrous mesothelioma is often diagnosed by chance during a chest x-ray, as it may not cause noticeable symptoms (paucisymptomatic) [3]. Diagnostic procedures for benign fibrous mesothelioma include thoracic CT scans and open lung biopsies [4].

References:

[1] Context 3 [2] Context 7 [3] Context 3 [4] Context 13

Based on the provided context, it appears that drug treatment for benign fibrous mesothelioma is not a primary focus. However, there are some relevant information that can be extracted:

• Chemotherapy is mentioned as one of the treatment options for benign mesothelioma in general (context 4).
• Heated Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) is also mentioned as a treatment option for benign mesothelioma (context 3).

It's worth noting that these treatments are not specifically tailored to benign fibrous mesothelioma, but rather to benign mesothelioma in general. However, they may still be relevant in some cases.

• Surgery is often performed to remove the benign tumor, and adjuvant therapies such as radiation and chemotherapy may be considered (context 3).
• One of the most promising treatments for malignant mesothelioma, which may also be applicable to benign fibrous mesothelioma, is surgery combined with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), which can add years to an individual's life (context 9).

It's essential to consult a medical professional for personalized advice on the treatment of benign fibrous mesothelioma.

• Treatment options for malignant mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and multimodality treatment (context 7).
• Benign mesothelioma tumours are not usually life-threatening and can be treated with surgery, which does not usually come back (recur) (context 8).

Please consult a medical professional for personalized advice on the treatment of benign fibrous mesothelioma.

References: [3][4][7][8][9]

Differential Diagnosis of Benign Fibrous Mesothelioma

Benign fibrous mesothelioma, also known as localized fibrous tumor of the pleura (LFTP), is a rare type of tumor that affects the pleural lining. When diagnosing this condition, it's essential to consider several differential diagnoses to rule out other potential causes.

Key Differential Diagnoses:

• Pleural metastases: These are cancer cells that have spread from another part of the body to the pleura.
• Fibrous pleuritis: This is a benign inflammatory condition of the pleura, which can mimic the appearance of LFTP on imaging studies.
• Desmoplastic mesothelioma: Although this is a type of malignant mesothelioma, it's essential to consider it in the differential diagnosis due to its similar histological features with LFTP.

Other Considerations:

• Pleural effusion: This can be a sign of various conditions, including cancer, infection, or inflammation.
• Lymphoma: Although rare, lymphoma can affect the pleura and should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Key Takeaways:

• Benign fibrous mesothelioma requires careful consideration of several differential diagnoses to ensure accurate diagnosis.
• Pleural metastases, fibrous pleuritis, desmoplastic mesothelioma, pleural effusion, and lymphoma are all potential differential diagnoses that should be ruled out.

References:

• [10] A diverse spectrum of benign entities and malignant neoplasms originate from the monotonous mesothelium that lines the serosal membranes of the pleural, pericardial, and peritoneal cavities.
• [12] This neoplasm displays a wide variety of histologic patterns and the major dilemmas consist in differential diagnosis with benign mesothelial proliferations and other mimicking malignant tumors.
• [14] Microphotograph of desmoplastic mesothelioma (H&E stain). The feature of granulation or fibrous pleuritis are dominant. Differential diagnosis.