Mesothelioma – Top USMLE Diseases

Diagnostic modalities such as chest X-rays provide static images of the thoracic cavity, including the lungs and airways. While providing a wealth of anatomical information necessary for the diagnosis of pulmonary disease, chest X-rays do not give much information about the individual's respiratory function. Pulmonary function tests are a group of diagnostic procedures yielding useful, quantifiable information about the rate of the flow of air through the individual's airways, lung capacity, and the efficiency of gas exchange in relation to time. The most commonly utilized tests include spirometry (before and after bronchodilator use), lung volumes, and quantitation of diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (CO). The tests can be influenced by the individual's effort/fatigue, disease state, or anatomical malformation.

Malignant mesothelioma (usually referred to as simply "mesothelioma") is the malignant growth of mesothelial cells, most commonly affecting the pleura. The majority of cases are associated with occupational exposure to asbestos that occurred > 20 years before clinical onset, which includes dyspnea, chest pain, coughing, fatigue, and weight loss. Chest computed tomography (CT) scan shows multifocal pleural thickening and pleural effusion. Pleural biopsy is required for confirmation and to rule out metastases from lung or breast cancer. Treatment is rarely effective, with an average survival time of < 1 year.

Carcinogenesis is the development of cancer by transforming healthy cells into cancer cells. This complex process occurs because of mutations in DNA that prevent the normal process of cell division. Normal cells have programmed cell death, but cancer cells proliferate without regulation. The genetic changes that cause cancer may occur in reproductive cells of the ova and sperm and propagate to progeny. Somatic changes are acquired during an individual’s lifetime because of exposure to carcinogenic chemicals, tobacco, radiation, and other factors. Mutations in oncogenes that promote cell growth and tumor suppressor genes that reduce cell growth are important mechanisms in the dysregulation of cell division and lead to cancer. Cancers are classified by their cell type and their location.

Lungs are the main organs of the respiratory system. Lungs are paired viscera located in the thoracic cavity and are composed of spongy tissue. The primary function of the lungs is to oxygenate blood and eliminate CO2. To perform this function, the lungs need to be able to capture as much O2 as possible, a task that is easily achieved owing to their elastic morphology. Each lung is enclosed within the visceral pleura and completely fills 1 of the non-symmetrical pleural cavities, which are situated on the left and right sides of the mediastinum. The lungs encase the bronchial tree and are divided functionally and anatomically into lobes.

Lung cancer is the malignant transformation of lung tissue and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The majority of cases are associated with long-term smoking. The disease is generally classified histologically as either small cell lung cancer or non-small cell lung cancer. Molecular profiling of the cancer provides further distinction of the tumor's biological behavior, prognosis, and treatment options. Symptoms include cough, dyspnea, weight loss, and chest discomfort. Regional and metastatic spread cause additional symptoms and complications depending on the location and organ(s) affected. Related paraneoplastic syndromes include hypercalcemia, hyponatremia, Lambert-Eaton syndrome, Cushing's syndrome, polydermatomyositis, and dermatomyositis. Definitive diagnosis and staging are made by biopsy, genetic mutation with biomarker testing, and imaging. Management is guided by the cancer stage and associated molecular profile. Lung cancer carries an overall poor prognosis.