Giant fibroma of the lung. A morphological study.

The authors report the case of a 78-year-old male patient with an inoperable giant lung tumour diagnosed 5 years prior to death. Fine needle cytological examination at that time was interpreted as indicative of malignancy. In the following years the tumour grew very slowly without signs of infiltration or metastatic spread. On radiological examination sharp limitation of the tumour was evident. Recurrent pleural effusions occurred and the patient died from cardiorespiratory insufficiency. Autopsy revealed a giant fibroma, well vascularized but without signs of malignancy. The diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical and electron microscopic examinations.