Mesothelioma Flashcards
1
Q
What is mesothelioma?
A
Tumour of mesothelial cells that usually occurs in the pleura; rarely in peritoneum or other organs
2
Q
Mesothelioma is associated with?
A
Asbestos exposure
3
Q
Mesothelioma often takes ______ to develop
A
30-45 years
4
Q
What are clinical features of mesothelioma?
A
Chest pain Dyspnoea Weight loss Finger clubbing Recurrent pleural effusions Cough Fever Sweating Signs of metastases
5
Q
What are the buzzwords for mesothelioma?
A
Shipyard worker (or their wife) Mining Construction Boilers Piping Automotive components
6
Q
How do you investigate mesothelioma?
A
CXR
Pleural fluid aspiration
Biopsy
7
Q
What would be seen on CXR?
A
Signs of circumferential pleural thickening
Lung invasion
Lung entrapment
Pleural modularity
8
Q
What would the pleural fluid aspiration look like?
A
Bloody
9
Q
How is the diagnosis made?
A
Histology of pleural fluid
10
Q
How is a biopsy conducted?
A
Thoracoscopy or USS-guided
11
Q
Treatment?
A
Drain effusions Radio-/Chemo-therapy Surgery? Palliative care Compensation?
