Malignant mesothelioma in Rome and Latium region, 1993-2001.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies on malignant mesothelioma have provided evidence on the etiologic role of occupational asbestos exposure and, to some extent, domestic and residential exposures. Less attention has been given to the occurrence of mesothelioma in urban areas where large quantities of asbestos have been employed in the past. The purpose of the study was to investigate the occurrence of mesothelioma in patients living in the urban area of Rome and in other parts of the Latium Region and the patterns of asbestos exposure.


METHODS
A pathology-based, malignant mesothelioma archive operating in Rome, Italy, was the source of cases. Included in the survey were cases resident in Latium and diagnosed in the period January 1, 1993, through December 31, 2001. Information on asbestos exposure was derived from interviews to the patient or his/her next of kin and from available medical records.


RESULTS
The case series included: 114 males and 53 females; total, 167. Information on asbestos exposure was available for 138 cases (83%). Occupational exposure was ascertained or suspected for 33% of cases resident in Rome and 63% of those resident in other municipalities of Latium. Sex ratio was 1.6 in Rome and 3.3 in Latium.


CONCLUSIONS
The high prevalence of women among mesothelioma cases and lower proportion of occupational exposure in Rome versus the other municipalities of Latium suggest a possible role of environmental asbestos exposure in the urban area.
Ascoli
Valeria
V
Anatomia Patologica, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Patologia, Università La Sapienza, Roma, Italy. valeria.ascoli@uniroma1.it
Belli
Stefano
S
Carnovale-Scalzo
Caterina
C
Corzani
Felicita
F
Facciolo
Francesco
F
Lopergolo
Michele
M
Nardi
Francesco
F
Pasetto
Roberto
R
Comba
Pietro
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D012384:Rome / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution