Prospective clinical and radiologic study of zeolite-exposed Turkish immigrants in Sweden.
Ninety-four persons from the village of Karain, Turkey, now residing in Stockholm, were investigated clinically and radiologically. In this village, environmental exposure to erionite, a fibrous zeolite, occurs, and there is an extremely high risk of mesothelioma among the villagers. Since an earlier investigation of the cohort in 1980, another 4 young persons have fallen ill with malignant mesothelioma in this group, where the incidence thus approaches 1%/year and is the most common cause of death. Solitary pleural plaques were found in 6%, thickening of the interlobar pleura in 4% and other radiologic signs of affection of the pleura in 2%. Thickening of the interlobar fissures were observed in 1 patient as the first sign of mesothelioma which has remained asymptomatic until 1 year later. The comparatively low incidence of pleural lesions in the cohort is probably due to the low mean age (36 years). Further follow-up could give clues to the pathogenesis of malignant mesothelioma.
Ozesmi
M
M
Department of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey.
Hillerdal
G
G
Svane
B
B
Widström
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000538:Aluminum Silicates / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D013548:Sweden; D014421:Turkey / Q000208:ethnology; D017641:Zeolites
D000538:Aluminum Silicates; D017641:Zeolites