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Pathohistological Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis

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Malignant Mesothelioma

Part of the book series: Recent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 189))

Abstract

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare aggressive tumour arising from mesothelial cells of the pleural and peritoneal cavity including pericardium and tunica vaginalis testis. Malignant mesothelioma occurs predominantly in men (>90%). Asbestos exposure is the best known and evaluated risk factor with a long latency period between exposure and onset of malignant mesothelioma ranging from 15 to 60 years. Exposure to erionite leads to higher incidences of mesothelioma and play an important role in environmental exposure (Turkey). Other possible risk factors are radiation, recurrent pleuritis/peritonitis and simian virus 40 (SV 40).

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is most common, whereas malignant peritoneal mesothelioma accounts only for 6–10%. Infrequent sites of origin are the pericardium and tunica vaginalis in 1–2%.

Malignant mesothelioma shows either diffuse growth pattern or occurs as a localised tumour mass. Diffuse type represents an aggressive tumour with poor prognosis and is incurable in most cases.

According to the WHO classification, three histological subtypes are distinguished: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic malignant mesothelioma.

Rare variants are desmoplastic type, a subtype of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, undifferentiated type and deciduoid type. Epithelioid type is the most frequent one, but biphasic malignant mesothelioma occurs in 30%. Pure sarcomatoid or biphasic type is seen less frequently in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma than in its pleural counterpart.

Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma is a generally non-invasive mesothelioma with low malignant potential that arises mostly in females in the peritoneal cavity. Histological type is an important prognostic marker. Longest survival is seen in patients with epithelioid malignant mesothelioma. Sarcomatoid subtype has the worst prognosis.

Malignant mesothelioma shows macroscopical and microscopical similarities to benign lesions and other malignancies. Therefore, reactive mesothelial proliferations on the one hand and secondary tumours resembling mesothelial cells as well as benign or rare mesothelial tumours on the other hand have to be distinguished. Additional immunohistochemistry is essential in histopathological assessment using a marker panel of antibodies.

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  1. Institut für Pathologie, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, BG Kliniken Bergmannsheil, Bürke-de-la-Camp Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany

    Iris Tischoff, Matthias Neid, Volker Neumann & Andrea Tannapfel

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    Andrea Tannapfel

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Tischoff, I., Neid, M., Neumann, V., Tannapfel, A. (2011). Pathohistological Diagnosis and Differential Diagnosis. In: Tannapfel, A. (eds) Malignant Mesothelioma. Recent Results in Cancer Research, vol 189. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-10862-4_5

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