Brain metastasis in malignant pleural mesothelioma

Intern Med. 1997 Aug;36(8):591-4. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.36.591.

Abstract

A 55-year-old male who had a remote history of occupational asbestos exposure consulted us because of chest pain. Chest X-ray revealed diffuse pleural thickening and pleural effusion on the right. A diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, biphasic type was made by needle pleural biopsy. Fourteen months later, the patient died of brain metastasis. At autopsy, malignant mesothelioma of the pleura with metastasis to the brain and bilateral adrenal glands was observed. Brain metastases proven by autopsy are rare in cases of malignant mesothelioma. The ferruginous body count in the lung tissue was 16 per gram of wet weight.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / pathology
  • Adrenal Gland Neoplasms / secondary
  • Asbestos / chemistry
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Humans
  • Lung / chemistry
  • Lung / pathology
  • Male
  • Mesothelioma / pathology*
  • Mesothelioma / secondary*
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Effusion, Malignant / pathology*

Substances

  • Asbestos