Malignant Mesothelioma Presenting Research Articles

Malignant mesothelioma in young adults

Ten cases of malignant mesothelioma presenting in patients 40 years old or younger at diagnosis were reviewed. Seven cases had a documented history of asbestos exposure of which five were household exposures. The median age at first exposure to asbestos was 10 years and the median duration of exposure was 120 months. The median latency period (time between initial asbestos exposure and diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma) was 19 years. The median interval from initial symptoms to definitive diagnosis was 5.5 months. The case history of each patient is presented. A significant delay in diagnosis in this age group compared with an age-unrestricted series is noted. The significance of nonoccupational exposure to asbestos is emphasized as a probable causative factor in the development of malignant mesothelioma. In addition, a possible genetic predisposition is briefly discussed.

Cytologic presentation of malignant mesothelioma in pleural effusions.

1,601 pleural effusions were found to be malignant between 1976 and 1987. Among these were 26 (1.6% of the malignant effusions) mesothelioma. Only 2 cases showed pronounced cytologic features that made a definite diagnosis possible on cytologic criteria alone. In 20 cases diagnosis of mesothelioma was strongly suggested by the patient's history and cytology of the effusion was compatible with mesothelioma. In the other 4 cases special examinations (histo- and immunohistochemistry, electron microscopy) led to the final diagnosis. The cytologic features of mesothelioma and other examination techniques, needed to resolve the differential diagnosis of mesothelioma versus other neoplasm in pleural effusions, are discussed.

MALIGNANT PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA AS A PELVIC MASS

We reported herein an unusual presentation of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma which appeared as a solid pelvic tumor in a 73‐year‐old man. The solid tumor was confined in the pelvic cavity, except for one tiny disseminated nodule on the mesocolon. The pelvic tumor was resected with whole pelvic organs en bloc. Histologically, the tumor consisted of tubular and sarcomatous structures, suggesting the biphasic malignant mesothelioma. One of the transplanted tumors in athymic mice was cystic and its histology had striking similarities to cystic mesothelioma. Transplantation of human neoplasms to athymic mice may be able to reproduce histological diversity of the tumor, even if it is not fully expressed in the original tumor. ACTA PATHOL. JPN. 37:1149–1156, 1987.

Malignant mesothelioma presenting in the pleura and peritoneum

Malignant mesothelioma presenting in the pleura and peritoneum is described in a middle-aged man. The patient lacked significant asbestos exposure which is not unexpected from both the clinical literature and animal inhalation tumor data. Computerized axial tomographic correlation is provided. Partial remission was achieved with the administration of adriamycin and DTIC.