Woitowitz H J, Paur R, Breuer G, Rödelsperger K
Dtsch Med Wochenschr. 1984 Mar 9;109(10):363-8. doi: 10.1055/s-2008-1069196.
Mesothelioma arises from the cover epithelia of the serous body cavities and is a most malignant and fatal tumour. Since 1978 42 cases of diffusely growing mesothelioma have been observed. An extreme difference in the expected frequency of mesothelioma among previously severely asbestos-dust-exposed persons and the rest of the population is characteristic. Accordingly, death from mesothelioma does not only show a predominantly high occupational asbestos-dust-risk association but also to environmental exposition by neighborhood and household contact. Thus in production and use of asbestos-containing products a risk must be expected. Due to the great likelihood of asbestos-induced mesothelioma in the individual case it is justified to consider this tumour as signal for asbestos exposition decades ago. In the German Federal Republic "pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma caused by asbestos" is a notifiable occupational disease since 1977. Each diagnosis of mesothelioma initiates the suspicion and thus the medical duty of notification of an occupational disease. Following the large increase of asbestos consumption in the GFR over the last 30 years an increase of medically confirmed mesotheliomas can be expected.
间皮瘤起源于浆膜体腔的被覆上皮，是一种极具恶性和致命性的肿瘤。自1978年以来，已观察到42例弥漫性生长的间皮瘤。在先前严重接触石棉粉尘的人群与其他人群中间皮瘤的预期发病率存在极大差异，这是其特征。因此，间皮瘤致死不仅主要显示出与职业性石棉粉尘高风险相关，还与因邻里和家庭接触导致的环境暴露有关。所以在含石棉产品的生产和使用过程中必然存在风险。鉴于在个别病例中石棉诱发间皮瘤的可能性很大，将这种肿瘤视为数十年前石棉暴露的信号是合理的。在德意志联邦共和国，“石棉所致胸膜和腹膜间皮瘤”自1977年起为须报告的职业病。间皮瘤的每一次诊断都会引发对职业病的怀疑，从而产生报告的医疗责任。鉴于过去30年德意志联邦共和国石棉消费量大幅增加，可以预期经医学确诊的间皮瘤病例会有所增加。
