Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 2, 2025

Implantation and Monitoring by PET/CT of an Orthotopic Model of Human Pleural Mesothelioma in Athymic Mice
Published on: December 21, 2019
Widespread pulmonary invasion by malignant pleural mesothelioma: an important diagnostic consideration
Mia MacMillan1, Bapti Roy1, Sally McLaren2
1Department of Respiratory Medicine Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital Perth WA Australia.
Abstract:
We report a rare case of early and extensive pulmonary invasion of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in a 70-year-old woman. She first presented with a hydropneumothorax and subsequent workup, including video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), confirmed MPM. After VAT, she developed dyspnoea, cough, and widespread pulmonary infiltrates of uncertain aetiology. These infiltrates progressed over the following months, failed to respond to antibiotics, and were strongly fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-avid on positron emission tomography (PET). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) yielded extremely viscous fluid containing mesothelioma cells. These cells were also found in the sputum when nebulized deoxyribonuclease (DNase) was trialled to enhance clearance of the pulmonary fluid. The patient deteriorated rapidly with progressive mediastinal and contralateral MPM involvement and died one month later. This case highlights the importance of including tumour invasion as a differential diagnosis of non-resolving pulmonary infiltrates in patients with MPM.
Related Concept Videos
Pleural Disorders: Types and Brief Description
Pleural Effusion II: Symptoms and Management
A pleural effusion is the abnormal collection of fluid between the parietal and visceral pleura layers of tissue that form the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It can occur independently or due to surrounding parenchymal diseases, such as infection, malignancy, or inflammatory conditions.
Clinical Manifestations:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis III
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
Pleura of the Lungs
Pleural Effusion I: Introduction
There are two main types of pleural effusion: transudative and exudative. They are differentiated using Light's...

