title: Peritoneal mesothelioma: an unusual cause of an acute phase response presenting to the rheumatologist.
abstract: The presence of an acute phase response may pre-date the eventual diagnosis of malignant disease by months or even years. We describe two patients referred to the rheumatology clinic, in which extensive investigation failed to identify an underlying cause to account for the presenting symptoms and an associated acute phase response. Several months later, repeated abdominal CT scans revealed an abnormality and subsequent laparoscopic biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Section, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, W12 ONN, London, UK. sh_hamdu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hamdulay
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Cook
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Strickland
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Mason
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000473:pathology*