Mesothelioma

Question 1

What is a mesothelioma?

Answer 1

A cancer of the mesothelial cells in the pleura, usually around the lungs but can be cardiac, peritoneal or testicular.

Question 2

What causes a mesothelioma?

Answer 2

> 80% are caused by asbestos exposure. 20-40yrs post exposure.

Question 3

What professions are most often exposed to asbestos?

Answer 3

Builders
Plumbers
Electricians
Engineers
Can be secondary, e.g. man comes home in asbestos covered clothes, plays with son.....son gets cancer.

Question 4

How does a pulmonary mesothelioma present?

Answer 4

Dyspnoea & Chest Wall Pain

Also can show clubbing, cough, wight loss, fatigue, fever and night sweats.

Question 5

What are the common complications of mesothelioma?

Answer 5

Pneumothorax & Pleural Effusions

Question 6

How do we investigate a potential mesothelioma?

Answer 6

CXR [unilateral diffuse or localised pleural thickening]
Chest CT
Aspiration if there’s an effusion [~bloody, cytology for malignant cells]
Thoracoscopy & biopsy

Question 7

How do we treat a mesothelioma?

Answer 7

Chemotherapy
Radiotherapy
Surgery (kinda untested)
Pleurodhesis or drain to control complications

Still most live just 12->18 months post diagnosis