Cellular
Classification
Histologically,
these tumors are composed of fibrous or epithelial
elements or both. The epithelial form occasionally
causes confusion with peripheral anaplastic lung
carcinomas or metastatic carcinomas. Attempts at
diagnosis by cytology or needle biopsy of the pleura are
often unsuccessful. It can be especially difficult to
differentiate mesothelioma from adenocarcinoma on small
tissue specimens. Thoracoscopy can be valuable in
obtaining adequate tissue specimens for diagnostic
purposes.[1] Examination of
the gross tumor at surgery and use of special stains or
electron microscopy can often help. The special stains
reported to be most useful include periodic acid-Schiff
diastase, hyaluronic acid, mucicarmine, CEA, and Leu
M1.[2] Histologic appearance
appears to be of prognostic value, with most clinical
studies showing that epithelial mesotheliomas have a
better prognosis than sarcomatous or mixed histology
mesotheliomas.[2-4]
References
- Boutin
C, Rey F: Thoracoscopy in pleural malignant
mesothelioma: a prospective study of 188 consecutive
patients. Part 1: Diagnosis. Cancer 72 (2): 389-93,
1993. [PUBMED
Abstract]
- Chahinian
AP, Pass HI: Malignant mesothelioma. In: Holland JC,
Frei E, eds.: Cancer Medicine e.5. 5th ed. Hamilton,
Ontario: B.C. Decker Inc, 2000, pp 1293-1312.
- Nauta
RJ, Osteen RT, Antman KH, et al.: Clinical staging
and the tendency of malignant pleural mesotheliomas
to remain localized. Ann Thorac Surg 34 (1): 66-70,
1982. [PUBMED
Abstract]
- Sugarbaker
DJ, Strauss GM, Lynch TJ, et al.: Node status has
prognostic significance in the multimodality therapy
of diffuse, malignant mesothelioma. J Clin Oncol 11
(6): 1172-8, 1993. [PUBMED
Abstract]
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Sources of National Cancer Institute Information
Mesothilioma, Mesotheliema,Mesothiliema,Mesotheleoma
Mesosthelioma, Masesthilioma information: |
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