title: [Twenty-one patients of malignant pleural mesothelioma in the Senshu district].
abstract: Twenty-one patients (15 men, 6 women, median age 67) were given a diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma between March 1998 and December 2007 in our hospital. There was apparent occupational exposure of asbestos in 11 patients and suspicion of asbestos exposure in 5. Mean period recuired for diagnosis was 60 days with VATS and percutaneous needle biopsy. Eight patients underwent pleuropneumonectomy. Their median survival was 14.4 months, and the 2-year survival rate was approximately 30%. Seven other patients received chemotherapy, another patient underwent palliative radiotherapy and the remaining 5 patients received best supportive care. One patient had long survived (41.6 months) with gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. In the Senshu district, in the southern part of Osaka, there have been many asbestos spinning mills, so environmental exposure might occur. We should try to diagnose malignant mesothelioma for patients with pleural effusion even if they apparently do not have a history of asbestos exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Izumisano Municipal Hospital, Rinku General Medical Center.
authors.forename: Yoshikazu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Nagayasu
authors.forename: Azusa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moriyama
authors.forename: Hisao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uejima
authors.forename: Hyun-Eun
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010994:Pleura / Q000601:surgery; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D011013:Pneumonectomy; D011878:Radiotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos