[Malignant pleural mesothelioma in 1997]

Some recent data on malignant pleural mesothelioma are reviewed, viz. the French 1996 INSERM report, our mineralogic study of anthracotic parietal pleura, and the new TNM classification of the International Mesothelioma interest Group (I.M.I.G.). Among medical treatments, intrapleural immunotherapy achieves the best objective responses in early stage mesothelioma. Radiotherapy alone has little effect on advanced mesothelioma. By contrast, recent surgical series have shown better survival rates and underline the interest of the new TNM staging. Finally, malignant pleural mesothelioma behaves something like lung cancer, in that only in N- stages can prolonged survivals be expected.