HemeOnc

Mesothelioma

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Mesothelioma, Diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma

  • See Also
  1. Asbestos
  2. Asbestosis
  3. Pleural Plaques
  • Definition
  1. Asbestos-related Lung Cancer
  • Risk Factors
  1. Asbestos Exposure (even minor exposure)
  2. Tobacco Abuse
  • Epidemiology
  1. Incidence: 2000 new cases in U.S. per year
  • Symptoms
  1. Chest Pain
  2. Dyspnea
  • Imaging
  1. Chest XRay
    1. Unilateral Pleural Effusion
  2. Chest CT
    1. Pleura may appear irregular
  • Presentations
  1. Vague cardiopulmonary symptoms
  2. Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
  3. Horner's Syndrome
  4. Dysphagia
  • Managament
  1. Palliative radiation
  2. No protocol improves survival
  • Prognosis
  1. Uniformly fatal
  2. Median survival: 6-18 months from diagnosis
  • References
  1. O'Reilly (2007) Am Fam Physician 75:683-90 [PubMed]
  2. Robinson (2005) N Engl J Med 353:1591-603 [PubMed]