Clinical Analysis Of 6 Cases With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Objective:To analysis the clinical rules of the malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) and investigate the early diagnosis and treatment methods of MPM. Methods:Six cases seen at Zhejiang University School of Medicine Affiliated Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital between 2003 and 2009, and with histologically confirmed MPM were reviewed.Results:Four men and two women were enrolled. The cases ranged in age from 54 to 70 year, average age is 60.5 year. A history of occupational exposure to asbestos was obtained in 1 case. The main clinical features including chest pain, chest distress, dyspnea, pleural effusion, lymphadenectasis, weight loss, et al. Chest X-ray could find pleural effusion, pleural thickening and pleural-based masses could be seen on CT, PET/CT could detect lymphnode metastases, bronchofiberscopy could see narrow result from external pressure in one case.3 of these cases did cytological examination of pleural effusion but none of them could find malignant cell.1 case received palliative surgery and intracavity chemotherapy,1 case received system chemotherapy,2 cases received palliative therapy,1 transferred to another hospital and 1 case abandoned therapy.4 of 6 cases were dead, mean survival time is 13 months. Conclusion:The clinical presentation of MPM is nonspecific and the prognosis is poor. Imaging and immunohistochemistry examination play important roles in the screening and diagnosis of MPM, multimodality therapy is the main treatment method.