title: Familial mesothelioma. Details of 17 cases with histopathologic findings and mineral analysis.
abstract: Nine new cases of mesothelioma clustering in four families are described, and additional information is provided on four previously reported families. All of the members of these families had some exposure to asbestos. Diagnoses were confirmed histologically, and the relevance of the histologic pattern is discussed after the literature review. The lung mineral fiber burden was quantified in patients by transmission electron microscopic examination and energy-dispersive x-ray analysis, and this confirmed significant exposure to amphibole asbestos in all patients. Evidence supporting an increased incidence of mesothelioma in family members is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Lung Disease Research Group, Llandough Hospital, Penarth, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dawson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibbs
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pooley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Griffiths
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001822:Body Burden; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008875:Middle Aged; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008903:Minerals; D001194:Asbestos