Malignant pleural mesothelioma: outcome of limited surgical management.
This study presents data on limited surgical management of malignant pleural mesothelioma. We reviewed retrospectively 70 cases of the disease managed surgically over a 10 year period. Fifteen patients received only diagnostic direct pleural biopsy, 40 had video-assisted thoracoscopic, pleural biopsy and talc pleurodesis while 15 patients underwent thoracotomy and pleurectomy for disease confined to the pleura. There were two in-hospital deaths. Actuarial survival was significantly longer in the thoracotomy group (median 14 months vs. 6 months in the other two groups, P < 0.03). Survival after limited surgical management of malignant mesothelioma is comparable to a previously reported more radical surgical approach.
Department of Thoracic Medicine, Harefield Hospital, Harefield, Middlesex UB9 6JH, UK.
Peter G
PG
Phillips
George
G
Asimakopoulos
M Omar
MO
Maiwand