Pleural mesothelioma: clinical features and therapeutic implications.

A detailed review of the literature was done to define the epidemiology, pathology, clinical features, and treatment of pleural mesothelioma. It appears that pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 400 deaths each year in the United States. Asbestos has been definitely implicated in the etiology of this disease. The common clinical features include chest pain, pleural effusion, and radiologic findings of irregular pleural thickening or pleural densities. Therapeutic modalities used in the past have included surgery, radiation therapy, and, more recently, chemotherapy. A combined modality approach to treatment appears more promising.