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Vol.47 No.3 contents | Japanese/English |
 | Full Text of PDF (1073K) Article in Japanese |
- Review Article -
Pathology of Mesothelioma
Kouki Inai1, Yukio Takeshima1, Kei Kushitani11Department of Pathology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University
Recently in Japan, the incidence of mesothelioma has been increasing. This is a reflection of the use of asbestos during the period between 1960's and mid 1990's. The maximum number of mesothelioma case is supposed to reach approximately 1700 cases per year by 2010 to 2015. Last year the law of relief on asbestos exposures was established and therefore, the pathological diagnosis is now very important for the compensation or relief of patients with mesothelioma, however the accuracy of pathological diagnosis as mesothelioma in Japan remains to be established. Immunohistochemical stainings using some precise antibodies according to the histological type of mesothelioma are recommended. The differential diagnosis includes adenocarcinoma of the lung, true sarcoma or sarcomatoid carcinoma of the lung, ovarian and peritoneal serous carcinoma or fibrous pleuritis. The diagnosis of mesothelioma at an early stage by small biopsy specimen is necessary for the cure of patients.
key words: Mesothelioma, Asbestos exposure, Differential diagnosis, Immunohistochemical staining
JJLC 47 (3): 223-232, 2007
