http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16253022

Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2005 Nov;129(11):1415-20.

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

Allen TC.

Source

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.