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Mesothelioma

William Edwin Martin, MPH, MBA, MD and Kristen EB Said, MPH, MD Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • Mesothelioma is a rare, insidious, and aggressive malignancy of the mesothelial or serous tissues primarily found in the pleura (80-95%), peritoneum (5-20%), and rarely, the tunica v...

DIAGNOSIS

Most often presenting symptoms are nonspecific, so a thorough exposure history supported by imaging is most helpful. 

HISTORY

  • Symptoms are usually nonspecific and occur when disease is advance...

TREATMENT

Treatment is generally ineffective with a median survival of 9-12 months. However, multidisciplinary approaches are essential to prolonging life and palliation.  

GENERAL MEASURES

  • A multidisci...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Smoking cessation

  • Immunization for pneumococcal pneumonia and influenza

Patient Monitoring

Monitor for paraneoplastic phenomenon, including fever, thrombocytosis, ma...

REFERENCES

1
Carbone M, Adusumilli PS, Alexander HR Jr, et al. Mesothelioma: Scientific clues for prevention, diagnosis, and therapy CA Cancer J Clin. 2019;69(5):402-429. doi: 10.3322/caac.21572
2
Brims ...

CODES

ICD10

  • C45.1 Mesothelioma of peritoneum

  • C45.2 Mesothelioma of pericardium

  • C45.0 Mesothelioma of pleura

  • C45 Mesothelioma

  • C45.9 Mesothelioma, unspecified

  • C45.7 Mesothelioma of other sites

SNOMED

  • 161635002 ...

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Mesothelioma remains a rare but universally fatal disease in part due to long latency.

  • Multimodal treatment has decreased recurrence rates and has extended survival time.

  • Main risk facto...

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