Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura with hemothorax at the thoracic apex

A 31-year-old man was referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of a left lung mass and substantial pleural effusion. 1,300 mL of blood was drained. Chest computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a hypervascular, round shaped mass, 9 cm in diameter occupying the left thoracic apex. The mass was broad-based, arising from the area of antero-lateral parietal pleura at the level of the thoracic apex and the first rib. The tumor was successfully resected via median sternotomy and left first intercostal thoracotomy without either claviculectomy or claviculotomy. For the complex surgical access and the tumor's hypervascularity, a careful operative procedure was needed to avoid massive bleeding. The tumor was diagnosed microscopically and immunohistochemically as a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura and did not meet the criteria for malignancy.