Have you ever noticed something strange or lumpy somewhere on your body? It's normal to feel a little scared or worried when that happens. Today we're going to talk about a rare, but not very common, lump. In medical terms, this is called a Solitary Fibrous Tumor (SFT) . Although the name may sound complicated, let's keep it simple and clear.
Simply put, what is Solitary Fibrous Tumor (SFT)?
This refers to a tumor that starts in the soft tissues of our body. Think of things like muscles, fatty tissue, and nerves in our body. These are called soft tissues. So, these SFT tumors can develop anywhere in the body. However, they are most commonly seen in the protective covering around the lungs (pleura) .
The nature of these lumps can be of two types:
- Some are very slow-growing and do not spread to other parts of the body (non-cancerous - benign) .
- Some are fast-growing and can spread to other places (cancerous) .
Although these are often non-cancerous lumps, doctors usually recommend removing the lump completely, either through surgery or other treatment, to prevent it from causing problems in the future.
Are there other names for these lumps?
Yes, in the past, there was a different name for this. At that time, doctors thought that these tumors only formed inside the chest cavity, that is, in the membrane that surrounds the lungs. We call this membrane the pleura . This is what helps the lungs function smoothly inside the chest when we breathe. So, at that time, these tumors were called "benign fibrous tumors of the pleura."
However, later research found that these tumors can form anywhere in the body, not just in the lungs, such as the liver, brain, neck, and head. So that old, long name is hardly used anymore.
Importantly, these SFT nodules are not caused by asbestos exposure in any way. They are caused by a separate disease, `Pleural Mesothelioma`.
What is the difference between SFT and Pleural Mesothelioma?
Some people may get confused because both can occur in the lungs. However, these two are completely different. Let's understand this difference clearly with the help of a table.
| Feature | Solitary Fibrous Tumor (SFT) | Pleural Mesothelioma |
|---|---|---|
| Main reason | There is no specific cause identified. | Exposure to asbestos. |
| Cancerous nature | Most often non-cancerous (benign), but there is a possibility of becoming cancerous. | Always a cancerous condition. |
| Places where it occurs | It can occur anywhere in the body, but is most common in the lining of the lungs. | It most often occurs in the lining of the lungs (pleura) and the lining of the abdomen. |
Who is at higher risk of developing these lumps?
Although these lumps can develop at any age, they are most commonly seen in people between the ages of 50 and 60. The condition is extremely rare in young children.
This is so rare that this type of SFT is seen in less than 2 out of every 100 soft tissue tumors.
Parts of the body where SFT lumps can occur
- In the connective tissue surrounding the brain and spinal cord
- In the liver
- Lungs and pleura
- In the cavities inside the nose (Paranasal sinuses)
- In the soft tissues inside the bony socket (orbit) where the eyes are located
- In the thyroid gland
Why do these lumps form? What is the cause?
In fact, doctors still haven't found a definitive cause for this. However, recent research has suggested that these tumors may be caused by a gene fusion between two genes in our body, called NAB2 and STAT6 . This genetic change may cause cells to grow uncontrollably.
What are the symptoms of SFT?
These tumors often grow very slowly . As a result, about half of people with SFT do not experience any symptoms . Symptoms usually begin when the tumor grows large enough to push on nearby organs, bones, or other tissues. So, the symptoms depend on where the tumor is located.
Let's see what symptoms these lumps show when they appear in different parts of the body.
| Location of the lump | Possible symptoms |
|---|---|
| Chest cavity (lungs, pleura) |
|
| Orbit | |
| Brain | |
| Spinal Cord | |
| Liver |
How does the doctor diagnose this disease?
Depending on your symptoms and the suspected location of the lump, your doctor will refer you for various tests.
- Medical examination: The first thing to do is to listen carefully to your symptoms and then perform a physical examination.
- Imaging Scans: These help to see the location, size, and nature of the lump. These may include X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound scans , and PET scans .
- Eye examination: If the lump is located near the eye, special eye examinations (Optical Coherence Tomography - OCT) are performed to determine the exact cause of vision problems.
- Biopsy: This is the most crucial test . This involves taking a very small piece of tissue from the lump and examining it under a microscope. This will tell you with 100% certainty what type of lump it is and whether it is cancerous or not.
Classification of severity of SFT nodules
The World Health Organization (WHO) has divided these SFT tumors into several grades based on their severity and rate of growth. This is called grading.
- Grade I (Low-grade): These are the least aggressive types. Their cells are mostly normal cells. They grow very slowly.
- Grade II (Intermediate-grade): These cells look a little more abnormal. They may grow a little faster than Grade I. They are also a little more likely to become cancerous.
- Grade III (High-grade): These are the most aggressive types. The cells are very abnormal. They grow rapidly. They have a high risk of coming back, becoming cancerous, and spreading to other parts of the body.
What are the treatments?
The main and best treatment for an SFT tumor is to completely remove it through surgery .
In some cases, surgery may be difficult to perform depending on the location of the lump. Or the lump may be large in size. In such cases,
- Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is given to destroy or shrink the tumor. Sometimes, this treatment is also given before surgery to make the tumor smaller and easier to remove.
What complications can this cause?
The biggest fear when you find out you have a lump is whether it will become cancerous or spread to other areas (metastatic cancer). When you have surgery to remove it, that risk is greatly reduced.
But the most important thing to remember is that even with treatment, these lumps can sometimes recur . A lump that recurs is more likely to become cancerous.
Apart from that, other complications may occur depending on the location of the lump.
- Paralysis: If there is a tumor around the spinal cord.
- Pleural effusion: accumulation of fluid within the lung lining.
- Optic atrophy: Damage to the nerve that carries messages from the eye to the brain.
What is the recovery rate like after treatment?
Many people recover very well after having a lump removed surgically. However, as we mentioned earlier, it is rare for a lump to come back, so your doctor will continue to monitor you. This means doing things like scans at regular intervals to check for a lump coming back. This is a very important thing to do to protect your health.
Take-Home Message
- Solitary Fibrous Tumor (SFT) is a rare type of tumor that forms in soft tissues.
- These can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Most of the time, these are not cancerous conditions.
- Most people do not develop symptoms. If symptoms do occur, they vary depending on the location of the lump.
- The main treatment is to completely remove the tumor through surgery.
- Even after treatment, there is a small risk of the lump coming back, so it is very important to stay in touch with your doctor and have regular checkups.
- If you experience any unusual lumps, pain, or other symptoms in your body, do not panic and immediately consult a doctor for advice.
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