title: Pleural mesothelioma--analysis of 12 cases in Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital.
abstract: Twelve cases of pathologically proved pleural mesothelioma collected from 1983 to 1987 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 9 males, and 3 females, aged 14-76 year-old (mean 54 year-old). Eight cases were malignant mesothelioma. Four cases were benign mesothelioma. The male to female ratio in malignant tumor was 1 to 7; in benign tumor it was 1 to 1. The mean age in malignant mesothelioma was 45 year-old, and in benign mesothelioma it was 58. Of the 8 cases with malignant mesothelioma, there were 2 cases (25%) of fibrous type, 1 case (12.5%) of epithelial type, and 5 cases (62.5%) of mixed type. Asbestos exposure history was not evident in our series. Definitive diagnosis was obtained in 10 cases by thoracotomy (83%). Two cases of malignant mesothelioma were verified by pleural biopsy. The diagnostic yield is 40% for pleural biopsy, and 100% for thoracotomy. Bronchoscopic examination, percutaneous biopsy, and pleural effusion analysis were useless in making a definitive diagnosis and distinguishing from metastatic adenocarcinoma in our opinions.
authors: H P
authors: HP
authors: Kuo
authors: W B
authors: WB
authors: Shieh
authors: Y C
authors: YC
authors: Chiang
authors: Y H
authors: YH
authors: Tasi
authors: R S
authors: RS
authors: Lan
authors: C H
authors: CH
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis