Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare cancer, and in 80% of cases the cause is asbestos exposure. In 1972, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared asbestos is a carcinogenic substance. Since then, every developed country has restricted and banned the product. Because of its high heat resistance, asbestos had been widely used as building material for decades. The WHO estimated that approximately 125 million people are exposed to asbestos, and more than 107,000 die from asbestos-related diseases annually. Because of its long incubation period, the number of patients is estimated to keep increasing in the near future.
METHODS: The authors report a case of long-surviving MPM with a rushed clinical course after brain metastasis. A 69-year-old woman diagnosed with MPM (epithelial type) 6 years earlier presented with a brain metastasis. The pathological result of the brain metastasis was the sarcomatoid type. This case showed the possibility of subtype transition after long survival.
CONCLUSIONS: This article aids in understanding the long-term natural history of MPM and the possibility of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Neurosurgeons have to be aware of its the natural history and the possibility of brain metastasis.
摘要:
背景:恶性胸膜间皮瘤(MPM)是一种罕见的癌症,在80%的情况下,原因是石棉暴露。1972年,世界卫生组织(WHO)宣布石棉是一种致癌物质。从那以后,每个发达国家都限制和禁止这种产品。由于其高耐热性,几十年来,石棉一直被广泛用作建筑材料。世界卫生组织估计约有1.25亿人接触石棉,每年有超过107,000人死于与石棉有关的疾病。由于其潜伏期长,估计在不久的将来,患者人数将继续增加。
方法:作者报告了一例长期存活的MPM,脑转移后临床病程较短。一名69岁的女性在6年前被诊断为MPM(上皮型),并出现了脑转移。脑转移的病理结果为肉瘤样型。该病例显示了长期存活后亚型转变的可能性。
结论:本文有助于了解MPM的长期自然史和上皮-间质转化的可能性。神经外科医生必须意识到其自然史和脑转移的可能性。