Abstract

Objective: In this study, our aim was to evaluate the general characteristics of the malignant pleural mesethelioma (MPM) cases, value of interventions used for diagnosis and to define the mortality of cases.

Material and Method: Records of patients were evaluated retrospectively. Records of the Population Registry Office of Tokat were used to determine the median survival rate and mortaliy at 6, 12, 24 and 48 months.

Results: Thirty five MPM patients were included in the study. The mean age was 61.5 years, and 17 of them were males. The most common complaint was dyspnea (86%), 24 of them had a history of environmental asbestos exposure. The value of diagnostic interventions was analyzed by the data of 27 patients who were diagnosed in our hospital. The cytology of pleural effusion was diagnostic in 7 of 24 samples (29%), and closed pleural biopsy in 10 of 22 samples (46%). Thoracoscopic biopsy was performed in 13 patients and and excisional biopsy from the chest wall in one patient, and all were diagnostic. Eight of 27 patients were diagnosed as epithelial type MPM, 17 patients (63%) could not be classified. All of the 13 patients whose samples were stained immunohistochemically showed strong / intermediate positivity for calretinin. Immunohistochemical staining was not useful in differentiating subtypes in 5 patients. Median survival was 14.9 months for all patients. Three patients (8.6%) died in the first six months. The mortalities for 12, 24 and 48 months were 42%, 65%and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion: MPM should be considered in cases who had a history of asbestos exposure. Immunohistochemical staining should be perfomed for differentiating subtypes.