Multiple bowel intussusceptions from metastatic localized malignant pleural mesothelioma: A case report

Explaining the Invisibility of Asbestos-Related Diseases in the Taiwan Workers' Compensation System

Occupational asbestos exposure was prevalent in Taiwan, but asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) have rarely been recognized. We conducted in-depth face-to-face interviews with 16 patients with ARDs. All of them had worked in industries known for high asbestos exposure. However, only three patients had filed workers' compensation (WC) claims, and of them, only two patients were approved. Reasons for the low compensation rate of ARDs could be divided into institutional barriers related to the flaws of the WC system and non-institutional barriers related to the knowledge status, causal interpretation, and social situations of individual workers. The Labor Occupational Accident Insurance and Protection Act passed in April 2021 has responded to the under-compensation of occupational diseases. However, the new act's effects toward improving the recognition of ARDs remain questionable. Our findings indicated that additional efforts are needed to remove non-institutional barriers hindering workers' ability to ensure their compensation rights.

Intussusception caused by small intestine metastasis of malignant pleural mesothelioma: a case report

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive form of malignant tumor that originates in the pleural mesothelioma and presents as a local disease in the affected hemithorax. Small intestine metastasis is a rare complication. Herein, the case of a patient with jejunal intussusception caused by small intestine metastasis of MPM has been reported. A 72-year-old man with MPM was admitted to our hospital for abdominal pain. Computed tomography revealed small intestine intussusception. An emergency surgery was performed, and the tumor and intussusception were located in the upper jejunum. Histopathological examination of the resected jejunum revealed that the tumor was a small intestinal metastasis of the MPM from the chest wall. This case showed that MPM may metastasize to the small intestine, and metastatic tumors may cause intussusception.

A challenging diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma with osteosarcomatous differentiation metastasizing to bone

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an insidious primary neoplasm of the pleura that can be challenging to diagnose and is commonly considered to be only locally invasive. We present the case of a 74-year-old male who presented with clinical features of MPM but from whom pleural fluid and biopsies initially suggested benign pathology. He later developed diffuse bony metastases and re-examination of pleural biopsies using modern immunohistochemistry and molecular testing revealed a diagnosis of sarcomatoid and desmoplastic MPM with heterologous osteosarcomatous differentiation. This case not only demonstrates the rare potential of skeletal metastasis of MPM, but also highlights the importance of recognizing the utility of modern diagnostic tests and their potential to prevent the need for unnecessary invasive procedures. To our knowledge this is the first description of this rare histological sub-type presenting with skeletal metastases.

Localized malignant mesothelioma, an unusual and poorly characterized neoplasm of serosal origin: best current evidence from the literature and the International Mesothelioma Panel

Localized malignant mesotheliomas (LMM) is an uncommon and poorly recognized neoplasm. Its pathologic diagnosis is often surprising in patients with serosal/subserosal based localized tumors that are clinically suspicious for metastatic lesions or primary sarcomas. Once a tumor is diagnosed as "mesothelioma", LMM is often mistaken for diffuse malignant mesothelioma (DMM). Best currently available evidence about LMM was collected from the literature and cases diagnosed by members of the International Mesothelioma Panel (IMP). One hundred and one (101) LMM have been reported in the English literature. Patients had localized tumors with identical histopathologic features to DMM. Patients ranged in age from 6 to 82 years; 75% were men. Most (82%) of the tumors were intrathoracic. Others presented as intrahepatic, mesenteric, gastric, pancreatic, umbilical, splenic, and abdominal wall lesions. Tumors varied in size from 0.6 to 15 cm. Most patients underwent surgical resection and/or chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Median survival in a subset of patients was 29 months. Seventy two additional LMM from IMP institutions ranged in age from 28 to 95 years; 58.3% were men. Sixty tumors (83.3%) were intrathoracic, others presented in intraabdominal sites. Tumors varied in size from 1.2 to 19 cm. Median survival for 51 cases was 134 months. Best evidence was used to formulate guidelines for the diagnosis of LMM. It is important to distinguish LMM from DMM as their treatment and prognosis is different. A multidisciplinary approach is needed for the diagnosis of LMM as it shows identical histopathology and immunophenotype to DMM.

Small bowel metastasis from pancreatic cancer in a long-term survival patient with synchronous advanced malignant pleural mesothelioma: A case report and literature review

Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive tumor that originates from the surface of the pleura. Approximately 70% of cases are associated with chronic asbestos exposure. MPM is regarded as an incurable disease, with a median survival of ~2 years following intensive multimodality treatment. Pancreatic cancer is a malignancy also associated with a poor prognosis, with only 2% of patients surviving for 5 years. The majority of patients with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed with an advanced stage of disease and experience a poor response to therapy. The development of synchronous MPM and other types of cancer is rare. The present study describes a patient with synchronous, biphasic MPM and pancreatic adenocarcinoma, who was treated with a multimodal therapeutic approach with stereotactic body radiation therapy. Due to a suspected diagnosis of ‘acute abdomen’, an emergency small intestine resection was performed and a subsequent diagnosis of moderately-differentiated adenocarcinoma was confirmed. During a further immunohistochemical examination, pathologists determined that the small bowel metastasis descended from pancreatic cancer. The onset of bowel metastasis is an event rarely associated with MPM, and has not been previously described in the literature for cases of pancreatic cancer. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, the present study describes the first case of intestinal metastasis from pancreatic cancer in a long-term survival patient with biphasic MPM.

Peritoneal mesothelioma metastasis to the tongue - Comparison with 8 pleural mesothelioma reports with tongue metastases

Purpose

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) rarely arises from the peritoneum. We describe the 1st such case which metastasised to the head and neck region (tongue).

Methods

We briefly surveyed the American Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, and the British Cancer Research UK database for the latest trends in MM incidence. We did a systematic Pubmed search for other MM reports with tongue metastases.

Results and presentation of case

American and British data show that MM incidence in men has stabilised in the last 10 years, earlier than previously predicted. The tongue is an unusual site for MM spread, with ours being only the 9th such case described. Our summary of published cases of MM metastasising to the tongue brings out our patient to be the least in age(35 years), and the only one to have peritoneal MM as the primary. Seven of the 9 cases were male. Only 2 had a recorded history of exposure to asbestos. All 9 patients had the epithelioid subtype of MM. Surgery was done as the exclusive reported intervention in 4 out of the 9 patients. Only 2 cases received radiotherapy, amongst whom, only our patient responded.

Conclusions

Metastasis of MM to the tongue is rare and usually in the uncommon context of MM with multiple sites of extra-thoracic or extra-abdominal spread. We have described a unique clinical manifestation of a rare subtype of mesothelioma. Moreover, we have tabulated and summarised details (including responses to surgery or/and radiotherapy) regarding all reported cases of mesotheliomas with tongue metastasis.

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MM incidence in “Western” men has stabilised in the last 10 years.

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Our case of MM with tongue metastasis was unfortunately very young, in fact the least aged amongst all reported cases.

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Our case is the only recorded one with peritoneal MM metastasising to the tongue.

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Our case probably presents an unusual pattern of mesothelioma metastatic progression, specifically from the abdomen to the chest, and from there, to the oral cavity.

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All reports of MM with tongue metastases concisely tabulated and compared.

Massive localized malignant pleural mesothelioma (LMPM): manifestations on computed tomography in 6 cases

OBJECTIVE

Our study analyzed the clinical symptoms and computed tomography (CT) manifestations of massive localized malignant pleural mesothelioma (LMPM) patients to improve the knowledge and diagnosis of this disease.

METHODS

Our study collected 6 massive LMPM patients pathologically confirmed by CT in the department of Radiology of the People's Hospital of Yuyao, Zhejiang Province, from January, 2007 to June, 2013; data of patients were also collected. The clinical symptoms, clinicopathological characteristics, CT manifestations, treatments and prognosis of enrolled patients were analyzed.

RESULTS

Our study enrolled 6 LMPM patients (2 males; 4 females) classified to epitheliated type (n = 4) and sarcomatous type (n = 2) with mean age of 62.7 ± 7.4, and 5 of them had a history of asbestos exposure. CT manifestations revealed that large soft-tissue mass close to pleura, which was smooth and lobulated, was discovered in all patients with maximum diameter of 10~15 cm and mean diameter of 13.67 ± 1.15 cm; The mean value of CT was 36.29 ± 2.62 HU; after enhancement, the mean value was increased to 76.36 ± 7.73 HU; patients showed zones of small patchy necrosis and large patchy necrosis. The following presentations were founded: enlargement of tumor vessel which showed arborization (2 patients), mass wrap around the descending aorta in left lower chest (1 patient), strips of fat density in mediastinum superior (1 patient), pleural tail sign (3 patients). Among 6 patients, pleural effusion (n = 4), mediastinal lymph node enlargement (n = 3), invasion and destruction of local ribs (n = 2). Median survival time of patients were 20 months (2 cases conducted operation), 24 (2 cases chose combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and less than 6 months (2 cases underwent chemotherapy).

CONCLUSION

To sum up, CT showed important diagnostic values on massive LMPM patients; patients with a history of asbestos exposure, large soft-tissue mass of pleura with an abundant blood supply and wrap around large vessels might increase the risk of massive LMPM.

Localized malignant pleural mesothelioma with renal metastasis

Localized malignant pleural mesothelioma (LMM) is a rare subset of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Its epidemiology, biology, natural history and optimal treatment are poorly understood. We report a case of LMM treated aggressively with complete surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy, but subsequently complicated by local chest wall recurrence and solitary metastasis to the kidney. This case is examined in the context of a small number of cases of LMM in the literature to emphasize the existence of this rare disease entity, their unusual biological behaviour and the need for further tumour molecular and genomic research.

What is the survival after surgery for localized malignant pleural mesothelioma?

A best evidence topic in thoracic surgery was written according to a structured protocol. This was with the purpose of assisting our management of patients with localized malignant mesothelioma of the pleura (LMM). Although the terminology is used inconsistently, this variant has been formally defined by the WHO as a distinct entity defined as localized disease histologically identical to the diffuse form but without any evidence of pleural spread. Treatments for LMM include different combinations of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. There is an impression that LMM may have a better outcome than the commoner diffuse form of malignant mesothelioma that has been reported to have a survival between 8 and 14 months. In order to advise our patients on prognosis, we studied the duration of survival after surgical resection of LMM. A total of 150 papers were found, of which 16 represented the best evidence to answer the question. The authors, journal, date, country of publication, study type, relevant outcomes and results of these papers are tabulated. It is difficult to combine the results of these 16 papers because both treatments and results are reported differently. Some report median survival (range: 11.6-36 months) and others disease-free survival (range: 0 months to 11 years). Median survival to the longest follow-up was 29 months when calculated by pooling data from informative papers using the Kaplan-Meier method. Our review suggests that survival in LMM is longer than that generally quoted for the more common diffuse form of malignant mesothelioma. Hence, aggressive treatment of LMM may be reasonable in appropriate patients.

Incarcerated inguinal hernia from metastatic pleural mesothelioma: PET/CT imaging

PET/CT provides a comprehensive staging, post-therapeutic surveillance, and outcome prognosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma based on its hypermetabolic behavior. This ability of PET may allow the monitoring, prediction, and detection of uncommon distant gastrointestinal clinical manifestations of this disease. The authors present a case of PET/CT imaging of pleural mesothelioma disseminating to the abdomen and pelvis, inducing an incarcerated inguinal hernia.