title: Malignant mesothelioma in a clerk working in an asbestos factory.
abstract: Mesothelioma is a rare cancer which is associated with asbestos exposure. Generally most medical professionals are aware of this. However, not many of them may realise that individuals could develop asbestos related mesothelioma as a result of 'bystander' exposure. We report here a case of asbestos related pleural mesothelioma in a clerk who was not directly exposed to asbestos. The patient presented with signs and symptoms of a massive right pleural effusion. The diagnosis of a malignant diffuse pleural mesothelioma was made only after the pleural tissue (obtained during the thoracotomy) was sent for histology. Patient was started on chemotherapy but he succumbed to the disease and died ten months after the onset of the first symptoms. The risk of developing mesothelioma among individuals who are not directly working with asbestos is discussed in this report.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community, Occupational & Family Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Chia
authors.forename: H S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D012846:Singapore
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001194:Asbestos