[Thoracic pain, dyspnea].

A 54-year old patient was admitted to the hospital with chest pain, dyspnea and left-sided pleural effusion, which was confirmed by a radiograph of the chest. In view of an exposure to asbestosis a CT scan of the chest was performed, which showed pleural thickening. The suspected diagnosis of a malignant mesothelioma was confirmed by needle biopsy of a paraaortic lymph node. Because of the existence of metastases a palliative pleurectomy was performed. Histologically a malignant mesothelioma of the biphasic type was found. The patient died less than half a year later from local progression of the tumor.