Open AccessPleural effusion: what lies underneath?
Author(s) -
Luís Vaz Rodrigues,
João Raposo,
Carmem Maria C. Mendonça,
Américo Figueiredo,
Fernando Barata,
Manuela Meruje,
João Valter Pires
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
bmj case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.231
H-Index - 26
ISSN - 1757-790X
DOI - 10.1136/bcr.09.2008.0973
Subject(s) - medicine , mesothelioma , pathognomonic , serous fluid , pathology , biopsy , pleural disease , radiology , pleural effusion , adenocarcinoma , disease , respiratory disease , lung , cancer
Malignant mesothelioma is a tumour of serous surfaces mainly arising at the pleura or the peritoneum. The diagnosis encompasses multiple problems as there is no pathognomonic hallmark for the disease, there are multiple histological types and the differentiation from other tumours, such as adenocarcinoma or metastatic pleural disease, can represent quite a challenge. Usually a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma carries a dismal prognosis with scarce therapeutical options.The present report concerns a patient with a diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma with endobronchial extension. Biopsy specimens were obtained through fibreoptic bronchoscopy and blind needle pleural biopsy. The final diagnosis was only possible after careful histological evaluation with a combination of immunohistochemical markers.