[Malignant pleural mesotheliomas. Comparison of roentgenologic and autopsy findings]

In 100 pleural mesotheliomas follow up x-ray studies were compared to autopsy findings. Initially x-ray examinations show effusions in 62%, diffuse pleural thickening in 29% and solitary pleural nodules in 6%, prior to death effusions and pleural thickening are usually combined. In 17 tumor nodules doubling times ranged from 0.5 to 3 months. The epithelial type of mesotheliomas is predominantly combined with pleural effusions, while pleural thickening is more often found in the mesenchymal type of the tumor.