Malignant mesothelioma: a case presentation and review.

Malignant mesothelioma: a case presentation and review.

Barreiro Timothy J; Katzman Philip J

The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association

2006

2006-12

Diffuse malignant mesothelioma is the most common primary tumor involving the pleura. Unfortunately, it also poses the most difficulty for physicians to diagnose and treat. Latency from the time of initial asbestos exposure, clinical features of chest pain and dyspnea, and radiographic findings of pleural effusion or pleural thickening are the characteristic features. Pathologic verification remains challenging. The primary distinctions to be made are between reactive and neoplastic mesothelial processes and between malignant mesothelioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma. Adequate tissue sampling is important to help diagnose malignant mesothelioma. This article describes a rare subtype of mesothelioma and illustrates the difficulty in establishing the diagnosis. Also included is a discussion of the clinical features, diagnostic dilemmas, and unsatisfactory outcome associated with this disease.

Humans; Male; Aged; Biopsy; Radiography; Fatal Outcome; Tomography; Adenocarcinoma/diagnosis/secondary; Mesothelioma/diagnostic imaging/*pathology; Pleural Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging/*pathology; Diagnosis; Differential; X-Ray Computed; Thoracic

Article information provided for research and reference use only. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

699–704

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