Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 5, 2026
08:01
Generation and Expansion of Primary, Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Tumor Lines
Published on: April 21, 2022
2.3K
Histopathologic features predict survival in diffuse pleural malignant mesothelioma on pleural biopsies
Cyril Habougit1, Béatrice Trombert-Paviot2, Georgia Karpathiou1
1Department of Pathology, North Hospital, University Hospital of Saint Etienne, Avenue Albert Raimond, Cedex 2, 42055, Saint Etienne, France.
Virchows Archiv : an International Journal of Pathology
|March 29, 2017
Summary
Histopathological factors on pleural biopsies can predict survival in malignant pleural mesothelioma. Specific features like low mitotic count and absent necrosis indicate better outcomes in epithelioid types.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer with poor prognosis.
- Histopathological subtype is a key prognostic factor, with non-epithelioid types having shorter survival.
- Recent proposals include grading epithelioid mesothelioma on surgical resection specimens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the prognostic significance of various histopathological factors in MPM.
- To determine if these factors can be reliably assessed on pleural biopsies.
- To identify subgroups of patients who may benefit from specific therapies or surgery.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 116 patients with pleural mesothelioma.
- Over 95% of diagnoses were based on pleural biopsy.
- Assessment of histopathological features including mitotic count, necrosis, nuclear atypia, atypical mitoses, and nucleoli characteristics.
Main Results:
- In epithelioid mesothelioma, favorable prognostic factors include low mitotic count (<3/10 HPF), absence of necrosis, mild nuclear atypia, absence of atypical mitoses, small nucleoli (<3 μm), and nucleoli visible only at high magnification (≥200×).
- Atypical mitoses were associated with worse survival in non-epithelioid mesothelioma.
- Mitotic count, necrosis, nuclear atypia, and nucleoli size did not significantly impact survival in non-epithelioid mesothelioma.
Conclusions:
- Histopathological prognostic factors are reliably assessed on pleural biopsies for MPM.
- These factors can predict median overall survival, aiding in patient stratification.
- This information can guide treatment decisions, including patient selection for surgical excision and tailored therapies.
