DEFINITION
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare neoplastic lesion associated with asbestos exposure. There are three major histologic subtypes: epithelial (most common), sarcomatous, and mixed (epithelial/sarcomatous).
EPIDEMIOLOGY & DEMOGRAPHICS
• Associated with asbestos exposure (all fiber types)
• Over 3000 new cases diagnosed in U.S. annually
• More common in men as a result of asbestos exposure in the workplace
• Right-sided involvement is more common
• Incidence of mesothelioma increases with age; median age at presentation is >60 yr
• There are currently more than 8 million persons in the U.S. who are at risk for mesothelioma because of prior asbestos exposure
thorotrast, zeolite, and erionite fibers.
PHYSICAL FINDINGS & CLINICAL PRESENTATION
• Dyspnea
• Nonpleuritic chest pain
• Fever, weight loss, sweats, fatigue, loss of appetite
• Dysphagia, superior vena cava syndrome, Horner’s syndrome in advanced stages
• Auscultation may reveal unilateral loss of breath sounds
• Dullness on percussion may be present
ETIOLOGY
• Asbestos exposure
• Other reported potentially causal factors include prior radiation therapy and extravasated |
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