Chest Diseases Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Arch Med Sci. 2010 Dec;6(6):926-31. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2010.19303. Epub 2010 Dec 29.
Mesothelioma is a cancer strongly linked to exposure to carcinogenic minerals, especially asbestos. The aim of the study was to detect the incidence of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in Egypt, to clarify the impact of occupational and environmental risk factors, and to characterise its demographic features.
They were 584 cases diagnosed as MPM detected in Cairo University Hospitals and National Cancer Institute from 1998 to 2007. Unfortunately, full epidemiological data were only available for 165 cases due to absence of a reliable registration system.
A steady increase in the number of cases was detected, from 24 in 1998, peaking at 82 cases in 2005, followed by a gradual decline (though still high) with 68 cases in 2006 and 51 cases in 2007. Male/female ratio was 1.35/1 (p > 0.05). The occupational exposure to asbestos was 13.9%. Residential exposure plays a major role in two regions, Helwan and Shoubra (27.3% and 20.6% respectively), while in Upper and Lower Egypt the level was 12.7% and 17.5% respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival for sex, residence and the pathological types epithelioid, biphasic and sarcomatoid was insignificant. The median survival for different grades and treatment modalities was significant (P < 0.001).
There was a steady increase in the incidence of MPM from 1998 to 2005 followed by a decline during 2006-2007. Mesothelioma in Egypt is mainly concentrated in areas of high environmental pollution. The decline within the last 2 years may be attributed to recent strict industrial preventive measures. However, a better environmental control programme would benefit Egypt.
间皮瘤与致癌矿物质（尤其是石棉）暴露密切相关。本研究旨在检测埃及恶性胸膜间皮瘤（MPM）的发病率，阐明职业和环境危险因素的影响，并描述其人口统计学特征。
1998 年至 2007 年，在开罗大学医院和国家癌症研究所共诊断出 584 例 MPM 患者。不幸的是，由于缺乏可靠的登记系统，仅 165 例患者有完整的流行病学数据。
发现病例数呈稳步上升趋势，1998 年为 24 例，2005 年达到 82 例的峰值，随后逐渐下降（尽管仍较高），2006 年为 68 例，2007 年为 51 例。男女比例为 1.35/1（p>0.05）。石棉职业暴露占 13.9%。住宅暴露在 Helwan 和 Shoubra 两个地区占主导地位（分别为 27.3%和 20.6%），而上埃及和下埃及的暴露水平分别为 12.7%和 17.5%。性别、住所和上皮样、双相型和肉瘤样病理类型的 Kaplan-Meier 生存差异无统计学意义。不同分级和治疗方式的中位生存差异有统计学意义（P<0.001）。
1998 年至 2005 年期间，MPM 的发病率呈稳步上升趋势，2006 年至 2007 年期间有所下降。埃及的间皮瘤主要集中在环境污染严重的地区。过去两年的下降可能归因于最近采取的严格工业预防措施。然而，更好的环境控制计划将使埃及受益。
