Clinical analysis of 19 patients with pleural mesothelioma

Objective: To summarize the experience in thediagnosis of mesothelioma. Methods: Analyzing theclinical data of 19 patients with pleural mesothelioina,including age, history of exposure to asbestos, clinicalmanifestations, imaging and laboratory examinationsand metastases. Results: None of the 19 patients had ahistory of exposure to asbestos. Eight cases (42.1 %) hadno obvious thoracodynia, 9 cases (47.4%) had pleuraleffusion limited to the right chest, and in 2 cases (10.5%)the brachialis plexus was involved, and in 1 case (5.3%)malignant mesothelial cells were detected in the pleuraleffusion. Pleural thickening or nodules were found in 13cases on CT and in 9 cases by B ultrasonographicexamination. Conclusion: Exposure to asbestos is notthe only cause of pleural mesothelioma. Chest pain isnot always associated with pleural mesothelioma. CTand B ultrasonography are a help in the diagnosis ofpleural mesothelioma.