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Mesothelioma
Treatment
Articles
and Abstracts
Primary
malignant gonadal mesotheliomas and
asbestos
Histopathology
2000 Aug;37(2):150-9
Attanoos
RL, Gibbs AR
Department
of Histopathology, University Hospital of
Wales and Llandough Hospital, Cardiff,
Wales, UK.
AIMS:
The clinicopathological,
immunohistochemical and aetiological
aspects, with respect to asbestos, of
seven primary gonadal mesotheliomas (three
intratesticular, four ovarian) are
described and compared. These tumours are
extremely rare, poorly described and the
knowledge of their natural history is very
limited. METHODS AND RESULTS: The cases
were collated from the UK Health and
Safety Executive Mesothelioma Register
over a 24-year period (1968-91). Primary
mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis and
ovary comprised 0. 09% (10 cases) and
0.03% (three cases) of mesothelioma
deaths, respectively. No primary
intratesticular (non-tunica vaginalis)
malignant mesotheliomas have been
described. In this study, we present seven
(three intratesticular, four ovarian)
primary malignant gonadal mesotheliomas.
In both genders the tumours show a similar
age distribution (with median onset in the
sixth decade), a similar association with
asbestos (in approximately 50% cases), a
diverse histological spectrum (with
predominantly tubulopapillary epithelial
subtype tumours) and an immunophenotype
that is comparable with malignant pleural
and peritoneal mesothelioma. The clinical
course appears variable (mean, 26 months;
range, 9-50 months). All tumours in the
study presented as localized masses and
their prognosis appeared more favourable
than that of diffuse pleural and
peritoneal cases. CONCLUSIONS: An
awareness of the existence of these rare
forms of malignant mesothelioma is
important to prevent misdiagnosis.
Immunohistochemistry has an important role
in confirmation of the diagnosis. The
accurate diagnosis of primary gonadal
mesothelioma has potentially important
medicolegal compensation considerations as
a significant proportion of these cases
are associated with asbestos.
PMID:
10931239, UI: 20389653
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