Asbestos Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Asbestos, including details on mesothelioma, lung disease, dangers, effects, risks.

Early cytological diagnosis of diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the peritoneum: a case report.

Pomjanski N, Grote HJ, Sander O, Heikaus S, Müller KM, Böcking A

Institute of Cytopathology, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Moorenstrasse 5, Düsseldorf, Germany. natalia.pomjanski@med.uni-duesseldorf.de

Mesotheliomas are the most frequent primary malignant tumors of serosal cavities with a poor prognosis. A definitive and early diagnosis on effusion samples is important, because recent advances in therapy for patients with mesothelioma may result in an improved outcome if they are applied to stage I disease.We report a case of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosed repeatedly by cytology in ascites fluids 1.5 yr before the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy histology. The cytological diagnoses were supported by immunocytochemistry, DNA-cytometry, and AgNOR-analysis. Routine cytology supported by three adjuvant methods enabled us to correctly establish the diagnosis. Our case suggests that a cytological diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma supported by adjuvant methods should not be rejected even if based on negative histological results.

Published 14 January 2008 in Diagn Cytopathol, 36(2): 120-3.
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