Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Case report and review of the literature

Our plain-English summary of Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Case report and review of the literature, by G. Watteeuw, A. D'Hondt, F. Tannouri, et al (Acta Clinica Belgica, 1995).

The study

• Authors: G. Watteeuw, A. D'Hondt, F. Tannouri, P. Recloux, C. Hubert
• Journal: Acta Clinica Belgica
• Published: 1995;50(4):222-6
• Type of article: Case report, Review
• Cited by: 3 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

We describe a peritoneal mesothelioma. There are many aspecific symptoms. Professional exposure is found in only fifty percent of cases. The histological diagnosis is often difficult. The survival period is short because of the absence of curative treatment.

In plain English

This article reported a single patient and then reviewed earlier published studies of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the abdomen. The patient was a 59-year-old man admitted to hospital with recurrent evening fever, heavy sweating, loss of appetite, weight loss, a swollen abdomen and signs of bowel obstruction. The authors reported that he had been exposed to asbestos at work for seven years in building construction, twenty years earlier, and also during hobby work at home. The article did not name the type of asbestos. Asbestos fibers were found in fluid washed from his lungs, although his chest X-rays were normal. At laparoscopy, the doctors saw nodular lesions spread across the abdominal lining. A standard stain first suggested adenocarcinoma. Further stains and antibody tests then pointed to an epithelial malignant tumour compatible with mesothelioma. Despite two courses of chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide and adriamycin), he died four months later. The authors concluded that asbestos exposure, including hobby and family exposure, should be looked for. They also concluded that electron microscopy, immunohistochemical studies and analysis of lung asbestos fiber content help in making the diagnosis.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Case report with a review of the literature
• Who was studied: One 59-year-old man admitted to hospital. The authors were based at a hospital in Mons, Belgium. No dates are given for the case.
• Exposure: Occupational asbestos exposure for seven years in building construction, twenty years before admission, plus exposure during hobby work at home for more than twenty years. The fiber type is not stated.
• Main results:
  • In this patient, bronchoalveolar lavage (fluid washed from the lungs) revealed asbestos fibers.
  • The patient's chest X-rays were normal.
  • At laparoscopy, the doctors found diffuse peritonitis with nodular lesions spread across the abdominal lining, and took biopsies.
  • The first hematoxylin stain of the biopsies suggested adenocarcinoma or carcinomatous lymphangitis.
  • Additional stains and immunohistochemical studies suggested an epithelial malignant tumour compatible with mesothelioma.
  • Despite two courses of cyclophosphamide-adriamycin chemotherapy, the patient died four months later.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded that asbestos exposure should be looked for, including professional, environmental and familial (hobby, family) exposures. They also concluded that electron microscopy, immunohistochemical studies and analysis of lung asbestos fiber content are helpful in diagnosis.

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Mesothelioma, Peritoneal mesothelioma.

Medical terms in this study, explained in our Lexicon: Peritoneal Mesothelioma.

Related studies

• Primary malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. A report of seven cases and a review of the literature — J.A. Asensio, P. Goldblatt, et al. (1990)
• Peritoneal benign cystic mesothelioma: a case report and review of the literature — S. van Ruth, M.W. Bronkhorst, et al. (2002)
• CT findings and serum ca 125 levels in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: report of 11 new cases and review of the literature — M. Kebapci, E. Vardareli, et al. (2003)
• Imaging appearance of benign multicystic peritoneal mesothelioma: a case report and review of the literature — V. Mehta, V. Chowdhary, et al. (2017)
• Primary peritoneal mesothelioma: case series and literature review — H. Sharma, I. Bell, et al. (2011)
• Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in children: description of two cases and review of the literature — M. Kovalivker, A. Motovic (1985)

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