Hypophosphatemia can be commonly encountered as an electrolyte imbalance and is defined as a value less than 0.8 mmol/l (2.5 mg/dl). It can be an incidental finding, but it is not uncommon to see it presenting with varied symptoms. It is good to have a clear diagnostic approach to this so adequate treatment can be instated. We present a … [Read more...]
Unexplained Pleural Effusion Leads to the Revelation of a Malignant Mesothelioma: A Case Report
Abstract: Malignant mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that usually affects subjects with prior asbestos exposure, a major risk factor that has been widely known as carcinogenic, and its use is now controlled if not banned in many areas of the world. Malignant mesothelioma originates from mesothelial surface cells covering the serous … [Read more...]
Pericardial Mesothelioma Presenting as Constrictive Pericarditis
Abstract: This case report presents a 60-year-old gentleman with a significant smoking history and possible asbestos exposure who was referred to the emergency department for atrial fibrillation with a rapid ventricular rate and symptoms of heart failure. Labs showed normal brain natriuretic peptide and troponin I. His echocardiography finding … [Read more...]
Incidence, treatment and survival of malignant pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma: a population-based study
Introduction: Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive cancer that primarily arises from the pleura (MPM) or peritoneum (MPeM), mostly due to asbestos exposure. This study reviewed the Dutch population-based incidence, treatment and survival since the national ban on asbestos in 1993. Materials and methods: Patients with MPM or MPeM … [Read more...]
Malignant pleural mesothelioma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
INCIDENCE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY Incidence Incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is generally higher in males than females and is attributed to historical differences in exposures with world-standardised incidence rates per 100,000 persons of 0.7 and 0.3 in the USA and 1.7 and 0.4 for Europe (for males and females, respectively). [ … [Read more...]
Access to care varies greatly among patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma
Access to care varied significantly among patients with stage I to stage III malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to study results. The findings — presented at International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer World Conference on Lung Cancer — showed variations in access based on factors such as distance to treatment facility, as well … [Read more...]
Osteopontin, GLUT1 and Ki-67 expression in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma: prognostic implications
Background: Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is the most common primary peritoneal neoplasm. The only universally recognised pathological prognostic factor is histopathological subtype. Prognostic markers based on patient features and clinical stages have been disappointing. Aims: To assess the prognostic role of several clinicopathological … [Read more...]
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Clinical Practice Guidelines (SEOM, 2021)
Diagnosis and Staging: Genomic studies are not recommended in routine clinical practice but may be appropriate in selected patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM), especially those with young age and family history of cancer, who may carry germline mutations in cancer susceptibility genes. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan with … [Read more...]
Biomarker candidates could aid in earlier diagnosis of mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a deadly cancer mainly caused by exposure to asbestos fibers. Unfortunately, mesothelioma is generally diagnosed at an already advanced stage and none of the therapeutic strategies tried so far is able to eradicate the disease. So new biomarkers that could help to identify the disease at an earlier stage are urgently … [Read more...]
Telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter mutations identify a genomically defined and highly aggressive human pleural mesothelioma subgroup
Purpose: Human malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is characterized by dismal prognosis. Consequently, dissection of molecular mechanisms driving malignancy is of key importance. Here we investigate, whether activating mutations in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene promoter are present in MPM and associated with disease progression, … [Read more...]