[Thoracoscopic and computer tomographic findings in pleural mesotheliomas]

The computer tomographic findings in fifteen patients with histologically confirmed malignant pleural mesotheliomas were analysed. The results were compared with the findings on thoracoscopy and on conventional radiography. On CT, the tumour was not obscured by pleural effusion and the differential diagnosis of masses in the chest wall becomes narrower. Signs of asbestos exposure can be recognised at an early stage. Once the diagnosis has been confirmed histologically, CT demonstrates the tumour clearly. Involvement of the pericardium and mediastinum can be diagnosed with considerable certainty and involvement of the pleura may be assumed if there is an effusion. CT is an advance in the diagnosis of these rare tumours; it aids in arriving at a prognosis and in formulating treatment.