title: Clinical study on mesothelioma in Japan: Relevance to occupational asbestos exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2003, the number of deaths due to malignant mesothelioma in Japan was 878; however, only 85 cases of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure were authorized for compensation. The reasons for this discrepancy require evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined medical records, X-rays, and pathology results to evaluate mesothelioma cases in Japan between 2003 and 2005; used a questionnaire to identify occupational and environmental histories, and determined the concentration of asbestos fibers in pathology specimens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified 442 definite cases of malignant mesothelioma with a median age of 68 years. There were 316 malignant mesothelioma cases with occupational asbestos exposure, 12 cases with neighborhood exposure and 5 cases with likely domestic exposure. Most (78%) of the 87 cases exceeded 1,000 asbestos particles per gram of dry lung tissue.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that 79.2% of cases of mesothelioma in Japan in recent years were caused by asbestos exposure.
authors.affiliation: Okayama Rosai Hospital, Japan. nakisimt@okayamah.rofuku.go.jp
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gemba
authors.forename: Nobukazu
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Keisuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aoe
authors.forename: Katsuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeshima
authors.forename: Kohki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001194:Asbestos / Q000633:toxicity*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D008654:Mesothelioma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014942:Workers' Compensation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001194:Asbestos