Deciduoid mesothelioma of the thorax: A comprehensive review of the scientific literature

Abstract

Objective: Deciduoid mesothelioma is a rare variant of malignant epithelioid mesothelioma. It often involves the peritoneum, but also thoracic cases have been reported. The aim of the present review is to describe the demographic, clinical, radiological, and pathological features of such a rare variant of thoracic mesothelioma, and the state of the art regarding the therapeutic approaches currently available.Data source: English-language articles published from 1985 to June 2016, and related to thoracic deciduoid mesothelioma cases were retrieved using the Pubmed database.Study selection: The search terms were "mesothelioma," "thoracic mesothelioma," "epithelial mesothelioma," "pleural mesothelioma," and "deciduoid mesothelioma."Results: Forty-four cases included in 16 articles, published in the period under investigation, were analyzed in detail.Conclusions: The mean age of the patients was 63 years, and the male to female ratio 1.7:1. Approximately 58% had exposure to asbestos, and 73% had a smoking history; familiarity was rarely reported. The most common anatomical site of origin was the right pleura, and the most frequent clinical manifestations were chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and weight loss. Thoracic X-ray and computed tomography were the imaging techniques most employed for diagnosis and surgical planning. The pathological diagnosis was obtained by examination of surgical or biopsy specimens in most cases. The best treatment strategy of deciduoid mesothelioma is a matter of debate; nevertheless a multidisciplinary approach is currently the best option for the choice of the adequate therapeutic scheme.cancer, deciduoid, mesothelioma, pleura, thorax | I NTR ODU CTI ONMalignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare form of cancer derived from mesothelial cells of serous membranes, principally the pleura and the peritoneum.1,2 In most industrialized countries, more than 80% of pleural mesotheliomas in men are related, principally for occupational reasons, to asbestos exposure, particularly to amosite and crocidolite fibres.3 Actually, high incidence rates are observed in western countries as a result of asbestos exposure in the 70s848 |

Clinical significance of histologic subtyping of malignant pleural mesothelioma

“…Deciduoid type was first described in 1985 by Talerman et al (38) in the peritoneum, and later in the pleura. However, less than 50 cases of pleural deciduoid mesotheliomas have been published up to date, and prognosis is closer to EMM than to sarcomatoid one (39). Small cell variant of MM is rarer, first reported in series of 13 cases by Mayal and Gibbs in 1992 (40), characterized by similar cell morphology to SCLC, but different immunohistochemical profile (negative for carcinoma markers, as well as chromogranin and synapthophysin, positive for mesothelial markers, and occasionally and focally for CD56).…”