[Epidemiology of malignant pleural mesothelioma in the Nantes-Saint Nazaire region. Course in 1956-1992].

The aim of this study was to estimate the evolution of the incidence of mesothelioma in the Loire-Atlantique department since 1956 and to register all the cases diagnosed between 1985 and 1992 and to complete the data of earlier studies carried out between 1956 and 1984. The cases were indexed from the files of the pathology department and also from demographic and occupational data concerning the patients which had been gathered retrospectively from an inquiry of patients attached either to private physicians or to a hospital service. From 1956 to 1984 there were 125 cases (119 men, 6 women) who had been diagnosed; 92 cases were registered between 1985 and 1992 (79 men and 13 women).

Prognostic factors in diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma. A study of 167 patients.

The existence of large shipyards accounts for the particular frequency of pleural mesothelioma in the Nantes-St. Nazaire region of France. From 1955 to 1985, 167 cases were diagnosed.

[The value of computed tomography in the assessment of thoracic mesothelioma (author's transl)].

The authors report their experiences with computed tomography (CT) in 17 patients suffering from histologically proven pleural mesothelioma. The examination has two particular values. First the extent of the lesions can be assessed, in particular the retraction of the hemithorax, the detection of mediastinal involvement (which would be invisible to all other methods of examination including thoracoscopy), the exploration of the adjacent lung and the fissures, as well as the diaphragm.

[Evolutive patterns of diffuse pleural mesothelioma (author's transl)].

The clinical beginning of diffuse pleural mesothelioma is a pleurisy. Initially pleura may be normal at X-ray examination, then either a pachypleuritis or a tumorous pleura appears. Thery serious since there is in the literature no cured case.