Revised March 2003
Mesotheliomas are uncommon, but not rare (50-70 cases per year at the BCCA).
Incidence
Because of diagnostic and pathologic difficulties, the actual annual incidence is unknown but may be 1-2/100,000 per year. Mesothelioma is approximately three to five-fold more common in men than women.
Age
Incidence rises with age and is approximately 10-fold higher in men between the ages of 60 and 64 years than among those between 30 and 34. Median age of diagnosis is determined by age of asbestos exposure rather than other factors; the median age is 60 years.
Survival
Adverse prognostic factors include: poor performance status, advanced stage, leukocytosis, male gender, sarcomatous pathology and presence of chest pain. Median survival of all cases is 10-12 months and two-year survival is 15%. Presence of three or more adverse prognostic factors reduces median survival to < 6 months. Median survival of stage I disease has been reported to be 16 months. A minority of cases can be indolent and associated with survival for several years independent of treatment. Long-term disease-free survivors are anecdotal.
References:
- Ruffie P, Feld R, Minkin S, et al: Diffuse malignant mesothelioma of the pleura in Ontario and Quebec: a retrospective study of 332 patients. J Clin Oncol 1989;7:1157-1168.
- Chailleux E, Dabouis G, Pioche D, et al: Prognostic factors in diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma: a study of 167 patients. Chest 1988;93:159-162.
- Curran D, Sahmoud T, Therasse P, et al. Prognostic factors in patients with pleural mesothelioma: the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer experience. J Clin Oncol 1998;16:145-52