Though much is known about malignant mesothelioma, the rarity of the disease and the similarity of its presentation to other, more common illnesses, means that its diagnosis is often delayed. These delays diminish the effectiveness of treatment. A recent case study published in the Cureus Journal of Medical Science makes clear that clinicians must be familiar with the symptoms of the asbestos-related condition in order to provide appropriate care.
Physicians Fail to Suspect Mesothelioma in Asbestos-Exposed Patient’s Pleural Effusions
The case study described in the recent article involves a 55-year-old male patient whose diagnosis with malignant mesothelioma did not come until almost a year after he initially presented with chest pain and pleural effusions. According to clinicians from the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Oujda, Morocco, the man had a 12-year history of chronic asbestos exposure from his work in construction, which had occurred nearly three decades earlier.
The mesothelioma patient’s initially complaint was limited to pain. There was no cough, no weight loss, no night sweats or other indicators to suggest mesothelioma, and after the pleural effusions were examined, nothing but his history of asbestos exposure suggested that the differential diagnosis include mesothelioma. He was treated with antibiotics and released.
Patient’s Worsening Condition Reveals Malignant Mesothelioma
When the same patient returned to the hospital 11 months later with worsening symptoms, including weakness and weight loss, his malignant mesothelioma was diagnosed and he was subsequently treated with first-line pemetrexed plus carboplatin chemotherapy. The study’s authors note that because fatigue and weight loss were not present a year earlier his case had been accepted as a benign case and he was released for follow-up, which did not occur.
Writing of the challenges of mesothelioma and the risk of delay in diagnosis, the authors suggest that “mesothelioma should be suspected with unexplained pleural effusion and chest wall pain as the presence of the constitutional symptoms such as fatigue and weight loss are usually late and associated with a poor prognosis.” They conclude that “awareness should be increased in treating subjects with unexplained pleural effusion and chest wall pain, with or without a history of asbestos exposure.”
If you or someone you love has been exposed to asbestos, the risk of malignant mesothelioma requires heightened awareness and vigilance. For more information, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
