title: A review of the treatment of diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma.
abstract: When the disease is diagnosed early, pleurectomy or intrapleural inoculation of colloidal radioactive compounds may be effective. However, most mesotheliomas are already diffuse by the time they are diagnosed; and no treatment has been shown to be effective. Metastatic involvement of the chest wall results from any surgical procedure; however, pain may be controlled by pleurectomy and/or external-beam radiotherapy. Of the chemotherapeutic agents tested, doxorubicin appears to be the most promising. Large, cooperative, controlled trials are needed to evaluate the usefulness of one or a combination of the treatment methods described.
mesh_terms: D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos