Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Presenting with Prolonged Fever and Rapid-Growing Pleural Mass-A Case Report

Abstract

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an uncommon, but no longer rare cancer. The most common symptoms include dyspnea, chest pain, and unilateral pleural effusion. However, prolonged fever has not been mentioned in published reports. There are several diagnostic means of evaluating pleural effusion, including effusion cytology, pleural biopsies, percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided cutting biopsy, and thoracoscopic biopsy. We report a 29-year-old male patient who developed left-side pleural effusion and prolonged fever without an accurate diagnosis until repeated thoracoscopic biopsies were done. MPM was diagnosed, and spread rapidly within 1 month. He died of multiple metastasis 5 months after diagnosis and left pneumonectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this may be the first report of MPM mainly presenting with prolonged fever and a rapidly-growing pleural mass. Hence, mesothelioma should be considered when fever and a rapidly-growing pleural mass occur simultaneously.