Recognition of histopathologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma in differential diagnosis of pleural biopsies

Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine. 2005 Nov;129(11):1415-20. [Link]

Allen TC.

Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Health Center, Tyler, TX 75708, USA. timothy.allen@uthct.edu

Abstract

Context: Diffuse malignant mesothelioma is generally divided into 3 basic histologic types–epithelial, biphasic, or sarcomatous. However, a great diversity of histologic patterns exists within these 3 basic histologic types.

Design: The diverse histologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma are briefly described, including infrequently encountered patterns.

Results: The histologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma provide a wide variation of features for the pathologist to consider in the differential diagnosis of a pleural biopsy.

Conclusion: Pathologists should be aware of the varied histologic patterns of diffuse malignant mesothelioma when evaluating pleural biopsies.