title: [Value of thoracoscopy and talc pleurodesis in diagnosis and palliative treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma].
abstract: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) remains a disease of very poor prognosis despite all new therapeutic approaches. We describe here 13 cases with MPM. The main symptoms at presentation were dyspnea (12/13) followed by weight loss (7/13), cough (3/13) and thoracic pain (2/13). On chest X-ray, all patients had pleural effusion associated with pleural thickening in 8/13 cases (62%). A definitive diagnosis was brought by thoracoscopy in 11/12 cases (diagnostic sensitivity 92%). In one patient, thoracoscopy was technically impracticable because of very important obesity. By thoracoscopic talc pleurodesis, we were able to control the pleural effusion in all patients with suppression of dyspnea (11). The mean survival after diagnosis was 6.8 +/- 5.0 months (range 1-16). At the present time, we believe that thoracoscopy is well indicated in any suspicion of MPM not only for diagnosis but also for palliative treatment of this pleural disease. However, there is a need for well controlled studies to improve the outcome of MPM.
authors.affiliation: Centre valaisan de Pneumologie, Montana.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Charvat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brutsche
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tschopp
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010166:Palliative Care; D016066:Pleural Effusion, Malignant / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D018700:Pleurodesis; D015996:Survival Rate; D013627:Talc; D013906:Thoracoscopy
chemical_list: D013627:Talc