Expert opinions of the first italian consensus conference on the management of malignant pleural mesothelioma.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a very important public health issue. A large amount of data indicates a relationship between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. The incidence has both considerably and constantly increased over the past 2 decades in the industrialized countries and is expected to peak in 2010-2020. In Italy, a standardized-rate incidence in 2002 among men was 2.98 per 100,000 and 0.98 per 100,000 among women, with wide differences from one region to another. Stage diagnosis and definition may be difficult. Management of patients with MPM remains complex, so an optimal treatment strategy has not yet been clearly defined. The First Italian Consensus Conference on Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma was held Bologna (Italy) in May 20, 2008. The Consensus Conference was given the patronage of the Italian scientific societies AIOM, AIRO, AIPO, SIC, SICO, SICT, SIAPEC-IAP, AIOT, GOAM, and GIME. This Consensus did not answer all of the unresolved questions in MPM management, but the Expert Opinions have nonetheless provided recommendations, presented in this report, on MPM management for clinicians and patients.
Pinto
Carmine
C
Medical Oncology Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Bologna, Italy. carmine.pinto@aosp.bo.it
Ardizzoni
Andrea
A
Betta
Pier Giacomo
PG
Facciolo
Francesco
F
Tassi
Gianfranco
G
Tonoli
Sandro
S
Zompatori
Maurizio
M
Alessandrini
Gabriele
G
Magrini
Stefano Maria
SM
Tiseo
Marcello
M
Mutri
Vita
V
D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010997:Pleural Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D019616:Thoracic Surgical Procedures; D013906:Thoracoscopy