Localized benign mesothelioma of the pleura: case report and review of the literature.

Localized benign mesothelioma of the pleura is a rather uncommon disease with good prognosis after successful tumor extirpation. We present the history of a 66-year-old patient, in whom tumor growth could be observed retrospectively over a period of 6 years. The tumor was extirpated successfully. On the basis of this history and a review of the literature epidemiologic, clinical, radiologic, pathological and prognostic criteria of the tumor are described.