[Case series of mesotheliomas from hospital archives as contribution to preventive intervention]

The clinical charts of 18 patients in the departments of radiotherapy and oncology of the hospital "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" (San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy) from 1993 to August 1998, were reviewed. Each case was assigned to first (fine needle aspiration, cytologic exam), second (multiple biopsies during thoracoscopy or laparoscopy) or third (operation) diagnostic level and asbestos exposure was analysed. The age-group was between 21 and 76 years (median 57 years). Three patients were less than 30 years old. The ratio M:F was 17:1. Malignant mesotheliomas were histologically confirmed in 16 cases: 1 patient was classified as malignant pleural tumor (cytology and CT scan), 1 patient as suspicious malignant pleural tumor (only radiological diagnosis) and both were excluded for analysis. We observed 1 case in 1993, 2 in 1994, 3 in 1995, 3 in 1996, 5 in 1997, 2 up to August 1998. Second level diagnosis was assigned to 9 patients and third level to 7 patients. In 9 out 16 cases (56%) the exposure was occupational: 5 ascertained, 2 probable, 2 possible.