Malignant mesothelioma--a difficult diagnosis
Shimoni, Z.; Flatau, E.; Shefer, J.
Harefuah 113(5-6): 115-117
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0017-7768 PMID: 3692372 Document Number: 291651
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare tumor which generally appears between the fifth and sixth decades, especially during or after asbestos exposure. In industrialized nations there has been an increase in the incidence of this tumor which is difficult to diagnose, both clinically and histologically. The tumor originates from mesothelial cells of the peritoneum, pericardium or most commonly the pleura. It was thought that the tumor spread only by direct invasion, but recently it has been recognized that distant metastases may also occur. We describe a 74-year-old man with malignant mesothelioma and distant metastases. Although the final diagnosis was made on postmortem by electron microscopy, chest X-ray and computerized tomography were highly suggestive of the diagnosis.