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Pathologic Characterization and Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

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Advances in Peritoneal Surface Oncology

Part of the book series: Resent Results in Cancer Research ((RECENTCANCER,volume 169))

Abstract

Mesotheliomas are characterized by their ability to exhibit a broad range of cytomorphological features and to grow in a wide variety of histological patterns. Based on their appearance, three major histological types of mesotheliomas are recognized: epithelioid, mixed epithelioid and sarcomatoid (biphasic), and sarcomatoid. Although the distribution of these histological types varies from series to series, epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common. Of the 157 cases included in the two largest series of peritoneal malignant mesotheliomas, 132 (84%) were epithelioid, 22 (14%) biphasic, and 3 (2%) sarcomatoid (Baker et al. 2005; Kannerstein and Churg. 1977). The purpose of this chapter is to discuss the morphological variants of mesothelioma and to review the roles of immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy in the diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma. Particular emphasis is placed on the uncommon morphological variants of mesothelioma, some of which have only recently been described, as well as on the immunohistochemical markers that have most recently become available and for which there is evidence that they could be useful in the diagnosis of mesothelioma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Nelson G. Ordóñez MD

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  1. Nelson G. Ordóñez MD
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  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, Centro Oncológico MD Anderson International España, Calle Gómez Hemans 2, 28033, Madrid, Spain

    Santiago González-Moreno MD, PhD

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Ordóñez, N.G. (2007). Pathologic Characterization and Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma. In: González-Moreno, S. (eds) Advances in Peritoneal Surface Oncology. Resent Results in Cancer Research, vol 169. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30760-0_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-30760-0_12

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