Recognition of histopathologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma in differential diagnosis of pleural biopsies.
BACKGROUND
Diffuse malignant mesothelioma is generally divided into 3 basic histologic types--epithelial, biphasic, or sarcomatous. However, a great diversity of histologic patterns exists within these 3 basic histologic types.


METHODS
The diverse histologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma are briefly described, including infrequently encountered patterns.


RESULTS
The histologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma provide a wide variation of features for the pathologist to consider in the differential diagnosis of a pleural biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Pathologists should be aware of the varied histologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma when evaluating pleural biopsies.
Allen
Timothy Craig
TC
Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Center, Tyler, TX 75708, USA. timothy.allen@uthct.edu
D001706:Biopsy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000145:classification / Q000473:pathology*; D018198:Mixed Tumor, Malignant / Q000473:pathology; D010994:Pleura / Q000473:pathology*; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology