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Mesothelioma, Effusions

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Cytopathology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Pathology ((EP))

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Synonyms

Malignant mesothelioma

Definition

Primary malignant effusion arising in any serosal cavity and originating from mesothelial cells. Mesothelioma is one of very few malignancies that have direct association with asbestos exposure which is documented in over 80% of reported cases.

Clinical Features

Most patients initially present with shortness of breath as a result of the large pleural effusion. When the mesothelioma invades the chest wall or diaphragm, the patient will experience chest pain as well. Other symptoms include fatigue, dry cough, fever, and weight loss.

The presenting symptoms tend to be vague and insidious, and consequently, it is not uncommon for the diagnosis to be established 3–6 months later.

  • Incidence

    The incidence of mesothelioma is reported as 2,500 cases in USA and 5,000 cases in Western Europe annually. It is projected that mesothelioma incidence will reach a peak by 2020 worldwide.

  • Age

    Mesothelioma has a long latency period after the asbestos exposure...

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References and Further Reading

  • De May, R. N. (2012). The art and science of cytopathology (2nd ed., pp. 312–332). Chicago: ASCP Press.

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  • Ismail-Khan, R., et al. (2006). Malignant pleural mesothelioma: A comprehensive review. Cancer Control, 13(4), 255–263.

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  • Michael, C. W. (2012). Malignant mesothelioma. In B. Davidson et al. (Eds.), Serous effusions (pp. 79–98). New York: Springer.

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  • Pereira, T. C., Saad, R. S., Liu, Y., & Silverman, J. F. (2006). The diagnosis of malignancy in effusion cytology: A pattern recognition approach. Advances in Anatomic Pathology, 13, 174–184.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Westfall, D. E., Fan, X., & Marchevsky, A. M. (2010). Evidence-based guidelines to optimize the selection of antibody panels in cytopathology: Pleural effusions with malignant epithelioid cells. Diagnostic Cytopathology, 38, 9–14.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Case Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Ave. Room 212B, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA

    Erica L. Martin & Claire W. Michael

Authors
  1. Erica L. Martin
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  2. Claire W. Michael
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Erica L. Martin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire national de santé, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

    Fernando Schmitt

  2. Medical Faculty of Porto University and IPATIMUP, Porto, Portugal

    Fernando Schmitt

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Martin, E.L., Michael, C.W. (2017). Mesothelioma, Effusions. In: Schmitt, F. (eds) Cytopathology. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33286-4_921

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-33286-4_921

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-33285-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-33286-4

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

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