title: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in a 76-year-old woman with a history of asbestos fiber ingestion.
abstract: We report on a woman with malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum. This is the first report of a subject with this disease who revealed a history of asbestos ingestion by asbestos-contaminated food. She presented with episodes of sweating and fever, ascites, and weight loss. At laparotomy, small tumor deposits were noted on the peritoneum. The omental cake was removed, together with the uterus, ovaries, and tubes which were all macroscopically normal. The diagnosis was established by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Postoperatively, her complaints of fever and sweating disappeared. She refused further chemotherapy. After questioning her for asbestos exposure, she told us that, years ago, she used to prepare vegetables for cooking in rain water collected from a roof made of asbestos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. p.vankesteren@vumc.nl
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Kesteren
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bulten
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schijf
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Boonstra
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Massuger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010534:Peritoneal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001194:Asbestos