Diagnostic Considerations

Conditions to consider in the differential diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma include the following:

Non-small cell lung cancer
Oat cell (small cell) lung cancer
Drug-induced pulmonary reactions
Mesothelial hyperplasia
Other primary lung neoplasms or metastatic disease
Pulmonary fibrosis
Pulmonary infection
Reactive airway disease

Differential Diagnoses

Workup

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Media Gallery

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan in a male patient with known mesothelioma. Although PET scanning is not standard for the evaluation of mesothelioma, this image illustrates the extent of the disease into the mediastinum and peritoneum.
Chest radiograph of a 58-year-old patient with mesothelioma and shortness of breath. This image reveals diffuse, left-sided pleural thickening, a pleural effusion, and ipsilateral volume loss.
Computed tomography scan of a 58-year-old patient with mesothelioma and shortness of breath. This image shows the extensive pleural thickening that is characteristic of mesothelioma, effusion, and reduction in the volume of the affected hemithorax.
Computed tomography scan of the chest. This image demonstrates mesothelioma that extends into the chest wall. Note the concentric left pleural thickening, pleural effusion, reduction in volume of the left hemithorax, and the tumor nodules within the chest wall.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan in a 72-year-old Veterans Administration patient with left-sided mesothelioma. Note that the MRI scan well delineates the soft tissues and, in particular, the thoracoabdominal interface at the diaphragm.
Computed tomography (CT) scan in a male Veterans Administration patient with a history of asbestos exposure and an enlarging abdominal girth. This upper CT scan slice reveals the calcified pleural plaques along the diaphragmatic surface that are associated with asbestos exposure. Ascites is seen lateral to the liver. Aspiration of the ascitic fluid demonstrated mesothelioma.
The soft-tissue window setting of this chest computed tomography (CT) scan shows the envelope-like mass along the pleural surface surrounding the lung. This was a mesothelioma.
The classic description of malignant pleural mesothelioma is a thickening in the pleural space with encasement of the lung by a rindlike visceral pleura. These gross specimens are from an autopsy lung case with diffuse thickening of the pleura causing compression of the underlying lung tissue.
This histologic section stained with hematoxylin and eosin shows papillary structures on the right and a transition to a more solid pattern on the left.
A solid pattern of mesothelioma on the right of this histologic section transitions to a spindle cell morphology on the left of the image in this predominantly sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma.
Well differentiated papillary mesothelioma is characterized with a single layer of bland cuboidal cells lining fibrovascular cores, as demonstrated in this image.
Immunohistochemistry helps to demonstrate that the atypical mesothelial cells in this reactive proliferation are in fact in one roughly linear layer, an important criterion supporting a benign process.

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Author

Winston W Tan, MD, FACP Associate Professor of Medicine, Mayo Medical School; Consultant and Person-in-Charge of Genitourinary Oncology-Medical Oncology, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Jacksonville; Vice Chairman, Division of Hematology/Oncology Education, Chair, Cancer Survivorship Program, Associate Chair, Department of Medicine Faculty Development, Mayo Clinic Florida; Vice President, Florida Society of Clinical Oncology

Winston W Tan, MD, FACP is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, Philippine Medical Association, Texas Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Nagla Abdel Karim, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Medicine, Associate Director of Experimental Therapeutics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Nagla Abdel Karim, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, Egyptian American Medical Association, Egyptian Cancer Society, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Alain C Borczuk, MD Professor of Clinical Pathology, Vice Chairman of Anatomic Pathology, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Visiting Assistant Professor, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; Attending Pathologist, New York Presbyterian Hospital

Alain C Borczuk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: College of American Pathologists, United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Pulmonary Pathology Society, New York Pathological Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Acknowledgements

Benjamin Movsas, MD Vice-Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, Fox Chase Cancer Center

Benjamin Movsas, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Radiology, American Radium Society, and American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Michael Perry, MD, MS, MACP Nellie B Smith Chair of Oncology Emeritus, Director, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Deputy Director, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

Michael Perry, MD, MS, MACP is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Association for Cancer Research, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Medical Association, American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Society of Hematology, International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and Missouri State Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Medscape Salary Employment

Mesothelioma Differential Diagnoses

Diagnostic Considerations

Differential Diagnoses

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