Diagnostic efficacy of electron microscopy and pleural effusion cytology for the distinction of pleural mesothelioma and lung adenocarcinoma.

The diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is challenging and requires immunohistochemistry or electron microscopy assays to specifically differentiate MPM from lung adenocarcinoma. An ultrastructural study of fresh tissue is considered to be the "gold standard." In most cases, the first diagnostic approach is performed on pleural effusion, and in some patients, this is the only available sample for diagnosis.

Gene-expression profiles in lung adenocarcinomas related to chronic wood smoke or tobacco exposure.

Background: Tobacco-smoke is the major etiological factor related to lung cancer. However, other important factor is chronic wood smoke exposure (WSE). Approximately 30 % of lung cancer patients in Mexico have a history of WSE, and present different clinical, pathological and molecular characteristics compared to tobacco related lung cancer, including differences in mutational profiles.