RT Book, Section A1 Godleski, John J. A1 Corson, Joseph M. A2 Sugarbaker, David J. A2 Bueno, Raphael A2 Colson, Yolonda L. A2 Jaklitsch, Michael T. A2 Krasna, Mark J. A2 Mentzer, Steven J. A2 Williams, Marcia A2 Adams, Ann SR Print(0) ID 1105844979 T1 Pathology of Pleural Malignant Mesothelioma T2 Adult Chest Surgery, 2e YR 2015 FD 2015 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-178189-3 LK accesssurgery.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1105844979 RD 2024/10/13 AB Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an uncommon disease with approximately 3000 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States. Most occur in the pleura. However, each year about 300 new cases occur in the peritoneum and many fewer in the pericardium and paratesticular serous membranes. Although most persons with pleural malignant mesothelioma (PMM) are middle-aged males (median 62 years), the disease also occurs in lesser numbers of women and over a wide age range. The presentation is usually with dyspnea secondary to a pleural effusion and/or chest wall pain. Most give a history of occupational exposure to asbestos 20 to 40 years or more earlier. Pathologic diagnosis guides treatment and is generally based on a pleural biopsy obtained by VATS. Prognosis is poor in most cases with few surviving 2 years following diagnosis. However, some recent reports indicate palliation with therapy and present studies aim at cure. This article will focus on the critical role pathology plays1 as it interfaces with surgery, radiology, and oncology in the management of PMM. We will consider surgical pathology procedures and tissue collection, classification, differential diagnosis, prognostic factors, grading, and causation and pathogenesis of PMM.