Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma With Osseous Metastases and Pathologic Fracture of Femoral Neck
Friday, June 27th, 2008.
Applied Immunohistochemistry & Molecular Morphology. 2008 Jun 20. [Epub ahead of print] [Link]
Lester T, Xu H.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY.
Abstract
Malignant mesotheliomas occur in the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and tunica vaginalis. The majority of tumors are pleural in origin. The typical pattern of spread is usually contiguous or via implantation. Hematogenous or lymphatic metastasis is not uncommon; however, metastasis to bone has rarely been well documented. This is a case report of malignant pleural mesothelioma metastatic to the femur with a pathologic fracture of femoral neck.
Glossary
- pleura
- (pler-uh) the membrane around the lungs and lining of the chest cavity. (Pleural mesothelioma.)
- metastasis
- (meh-tas-teh-sis) the spread of cancer cells to distant areas of the body by way of the lymph system or bloodstream.
- mesothelioma
- a tumor derived from mesothelial tissue, such as the peritoneum (lining the abdomen) or pleura (lining the lungs). More on mesothelioma.
- tunica vaginalis
- The serous sheath of the testis and epididymis, derived from the peritoneum; it consists of outer parietal and inner visceral serous layers.
