Distant visceral metastases in pleural mesothelioma

doi:10.1016/0007-0971(76)90039-5

British Journal of Diseases of the Chest

Volume 70, 1976, Pages 246-250

https://doi.org/10.1016/0007-0971(76)90039-5 Get rights and content

Abstract

Distant visceral metastases were found in 15 of 32 cases of pleural mesothelioma (47%). Contrary to earlier reports pleural mesothelioma should be regarded as a tumour in which visceral metastases are not uncommon.

No association was found between the histological type of mesothelioma and visceral metastases; the peritoneal involvement found in five cases is probably due to local infiltration and seeding.

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Cited by (59)

Postmortem findings of malignant pleural mesothelioma: A two-center study of 318 patients
2012, Chest
Citation Excerpt :
Mesothelioma is often considered locally invasive, and distant metastases are perceived as relatively uncommon. Previous studies have reported the presence of mesothelioma at distant sites, but the pattern and incidence varied among reports.8–11,16–25 Therapeutic attempts to eradicate tumors from within the pleural cavity, however, have not been successful.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an incurable cancer with a rising incidence. MPM is often perceived as a locally invasive cancer, and the exact cause of death is poorly understood. This two-center study describes the anatomic features of patients with MPM at postmortem.
The Western Australia Mesothelioma Registry (Australia) and Coroner's Office reports from the Avon region (England) were interrogated for the postmortem records of confirmed mesothelioma cases.
Postmortem records of 318 patients with pleural mesothelioma (169 from Western Australia and 149 from Avon) were identified. Most patients (91.5%) were men (mean age, 68.4 ± 11.5 years), and MPM was right-sided in 55.3%. Extrapleural dissemination of tumor was found in 87.7% of cases and lymph node involvement in 53.3%. Tumor dissemination in extrathoracic sites was common (55.4% of patients), and almost all organs were involved, including liver (31.9%), spleen (10.8%), thyroid (6.9%), and the brain (3.0%). Pulmonary emboli were found in 6% of cases and considered as directly contributing to death in 13 patients (4.1%). The precise cause of death could only be determined in 63 (19.8%) cases even after postmortem. The BMI was significantly lower in cases that had no identifiable anatomic cause of death at postmortem (18.8 ± 4.3 vs 21.0 ± 4.7, P = .034).
In this largest, to our knowledge, postmortem series on MPM, extrathoracic dissemination of mesothelioma was common and often underrecognized. No anatomic cause of death was identified in the majority of patients even at autopsy, raising the possibility of physiologic and metabolic causes of death.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma
2005, American Journal of the Medical Sciences
Citation Excerpt :
Although distant hematogenous dissemination to remote viscera was once thought uncommon, autopsy experience refutes this.79 One-third to one-half of patients may have distant metastases discovered at postmortem examination, including opposite lung, liver, kidney, adrenal gland, and bone.80 In patients with potentially resectable disease, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been recommended to assist in local staging.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an uncommon tumor; only about 3000 cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. Cases were described early in the 20th century, but their relationship to asbestos exposure was not documented until 1960. Since then, the incidence has appeared to increase, and numerous epidemiologic studies have confirmed that exposure to asbestos in a variety of settings and occupations is the most significant risk factor for the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma. More recently, the oncogenic virus SV40 has also been implicated as a potential etiologic agent. Surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy have each been used in the treatment of mesothelioma, but generally with little impact on survival. New directions in therapy include aggressive multimodality programs for potentially resectable patients and targeted therapies, including antifolates, antiangiogenesis agents, and drugs directed at epidermal growth factor receptor for the majority of patients presenting with unresectable disease.
Malignant pleural mesothelioma metastasis to the mandible
2004, International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
The diagnostic utility of immunohistochemistry in distinguishing between mesothelioma and renal cell carcinoma: A comparative study
2004, Human Pathology
Both mesotheliomas and renal cell carcinomas can present a wide variety of morphological patterns. Because of this, renal cell carcinomas that metastasize to the pleura and lung may be confused with mesotheliomas. The aim of the present study was to compare the value of the various immunohistochemical markers currently available for the diagnosis of mesothelioma and renal cell carcinoma. A total of 48 mesotheliomas (40 epithelioid, 8 sarcomatoid), and 48 renal cell carcinomas (24 conventional, 12 chromophobe, 8 papillary, 4 sarcomatoid) were investigated for the expression of the following markers: calretinin, mesothelin, cytokeratin 5/6, WT1, thrombomodulin (TM), N-cadherin, CD15 (leu-M1), MOC-31, Ber-EP4, BG-8 (Lewis^y), CD10, renal cell carcinoma marker (RCC Ma), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and B72.3. All (100%) of the epithelioid mesotheliomas reacted for calretinin, mesothelin, and cytokeratin 5/6; 93% for WT1; 78% for TM; 75% for N-cadherin, 48% for CD10, 15% for Ber-EP4, 8% for MOC-31, 8% for RCC Ma, 5% for BG-8, and none for CEA, B72.3, or CD15. Of the sarcomatoid mesotheliomas, 88% expressed calretinin, 75% N-cadherin, 38% CD10, and 13% each expressed cytokeratin 5/6, WT1, and TM. All of the remaining markers were negative. Among the RCCs, 81% expressed CD10, 75% N-cadherin, 63% CD15, 50% RCC Ma, 50% MOC-31, 42% Ber-EP4, 8% BG-8, and 2% TM. The remaining markers were negative. The results indicate that calretinin, mesothelin, and cytokeratin 5/6 are the best positive mesothelioma markers for differentiating epithelioid mesotheliomas from renal cell carcinomas. The best discriminators among the antibodies considered negative markers for mesothelioma are CD15, MOC-31, and RCC Ma. An accurate differential diagnosis can be reached with the use of any 2 of the 3 recommended positive markers, which should be selected based on availability and on which ones yield the best staining results in a given laboratory. One of the recommended negative markers may be added to the panel if deemed necessary. If confirmation of renal origin is needed, RCC Ma could be useful. Calretinin is the only marker that appears to have any utility in distinguishing between sarcomatoid mesotheliomas and sarcomatoid renal cell carcinomas.
Solitary cerebellar metastasis of malignant pleural mesothelioma: Case report
2004, Surgical Neurology
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an uncommon malignancy that rarely metastasizes to the central nervous system and even less frequently occurs as a solitary lesion.
We present a 71-year-old white female, nonsmoker, with no occupational exposure to asbestos. She presented with a 15-lb. weight loss over several months and persistent right subscapular pain radiating to her anterior chest. Imaging studies revealed a pleural mass, and biopsy confirmed fibrous type malignant pleural mesothelioma. During a metastatic workup, computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head demonstrated a 1 cm subcortical, contrast-enhancing lesion without surrounding edema in the right posterior cerebellum. Surgical resection of the solitary cerebellar mass revealed fibrous-type metastatic malignant mesothelioma. Postoperatively, the patient received a combined chemotherapy regimen of Adriamycin and Cisplatin and underwent whole brain radiation therapy.
We report the first resection of a solitary cerebellar metastasis of malignant pleural mesothelioma. We also review past cases of intracranial metastasis of this malignancy, its histologic subtypes, outcome, and recent treatment modalities.
Multiple Skeletal Muscle Metastases from Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
1995, Pathology Research and Practice
A 54-year-old male patient (occupational asbestos exposure over 27 years) died 2 years and 4 months after the diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma of the right side, despite twice undergoing pleurectomy and radiotherapy. The autopsy revealed a locally advanced pleural mesothelioma of both sides involving the pericardium, heart, right diaphragm, liver and peritoneum. Disseminated metastases in numerous lymph nodes and a hematogenous metastatic spread into both lungs, the thyroid gland, peritoneum and skeletal musculature were found. The left temporal muscle and proximal limb skeletal muscles of the right upper arm and both thighs exhibited multiple metastases measuring up to 7 cm in diameter. Microscopically, a biphasic type of mesothelioma was detected. To our knowledge this is the first extensive case report on muscle metastases in malignant mesothelioma. Reviewing the literature, it is thought that in the presented case the long survival time of the patient and his protracted preterminal immobility could have contributed to the unusual formation of multiple skeletal muscle metastases.

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General articleDistant visceral metastases in pleural mesothelioma

Abstract

Br. J. Dis. Chest

Pleural mesothelioma

Am. J. Path.

Histological characteristics of mesothelioma associated with asbestos

Ann. N. Y. Acad. Sci.

Geographic pathology of pleural mesothelioma

Diffuse mesotheliomas

Asbestosis

General article
Distant visceral metastases in pleural mesothelioma