Related Studies
In 1996 a study was done
on 85 malignant mesotheleoma
patients to determine the importance of proper diagnosis. Based on how
the tumor looks under a microscope, mesotheleoma is divided into three
types. These are the epithelial, sarcomatoid, and mixed/biphasic
types. Most mesotheleomas (50-70%) are epithelial. The correct identification
of a patient's tumor type is highly dependent on "pretreatment" factors
such as the diagnostic technique used and the quality and size of biopsy
specimens. Although treatment factors are the same for all three types,
the epithelial type has the best prognosis (outlook) of the three.
Based on these two observations, the researchers concluded that "the prognosis
of patients with plural
mesothelioma is more dependent on pretreatment factors than on the
effect of theurapeutic interventions."
Chest 1996; 109(1): 109-14.
A second study on patients
with undiagnosed pleural effusions (mesotheleoma is a type of pleural
effusion), sought to determine the most accurate and well-tolerated method
of diagnosis. In each case, the patients had already undergone several
procedures which had failed to provide a conclusive diagnosis. Using a
rigid thoracoscope equipped with a video camera, the researchers attained
correct diagnosis in 93% of the previously undiagnosed patients. The researchers
concluded that video thoracoscopy can be highly useful in cases where
diagnosis is inconclusive using techniques such as pleural fluid cytology.
Casalini et al., Eur Respir J 1994;7 (suppl 18):443s.
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