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MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS
Common Malignant Mesothelioma Symptoms
The onset of symptoms is
insidious, and patients often experience symptoms for 4-6 months before
the diagnosis is made.
The most common symptoms are
the following:
Recent onset of shortness of
breath (31%)
Recent increase in shortness of breath (30%)
Chest pain (43%)
Other symptoms include the following:
Cough (35%)
Weight loss (23%)
Weakness (18%)
Increased sputum production (18%)
The most common findings on physical examination (79%) are signs of
pleural effusion (e.g., dullness to percussion or decreased breath
sounds).
Patients with peritoneal
involvement experience symptoms as follows:
Abdominal pain (60%)
Anorexia (27%)
Weakness (12%)
Nausea (11%)
The most common signs of peritoneal mesothelioma include the following:
Abdominal distention (56%)
Ascites (37%)
Weight loss (38%)
Abdominal mass (11%)
Frequency of Mesothelioma
In the US: Annual incidence of
mesothelioma is 7-13 per 1,000,000 male patients with a history of
asbestos exposure. Approximately 1 in 1,000,000 North American patients
with no asbestos exposure present with mesothelioma per year. The
incidence of mesothelioma is lower in women than in men, probably because
fewer women than men worked outside the home in the mid-20th century;
therefore, they were exposed less to asbestos.
The incidence of mesothelioma
is highest in the Pacific and mid-Atlantic states and may be related to
the location of industries such as shipyards.
Internationally: The incidence
of mesothelioma in women is 2/1,000,000/year and in men is
10-30/1,000,000/year in industrialized countries where asbestos was used
widely. The incidence of mesothelioma varies greatly among nations and is
difficult to document in countries without mesothelioma registries. In
France, an estimated 950 new patients are seen per year. In the United
Kingdom (where a mesothelioma registry exists), incidence is expected to
peak in the year 2020 at 2700 deaths per year and is expected to decline
rapidly thereafter.
Mortality / Morbidity of Malignant Mesothelioma
Malignant mesothelioma usually
is fatal. Death usually occurs within 18 months of first onset of
symptoms. Mesothelioma usually presents 30-40 years after asbestos
exposure.
Source: (Cancer 1986 Oct 1; 58(7): 1540-51)
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