Trimodality management of malignant pleural mesothelioma

Objective: We reviewed our experience with trimodality management of malign ant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Methods: From September 1998 to August 2000 , 32 consecutive patients with histological diagnosis of MPM underwent trim odality therapy, including surgery followed by adjuvant chemotherapy and ra diation therapy. Surgery consisted of pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) or pl eural-pericardial-pneumonectomy and diaphragm (PPPD). Pre-operative staging according to the Brigham Staging System was accomplished using computed to mography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); patients with evident e xtrapleural spread were excluded. Results. Our series included 21 men and 1 1 women with a median age of 53.5 years (range 40-69). Histologically, ther e were 26 epithelial, four mixed and two sarcomatous MPM. Post-surgical sta ging was as follows: six patients were at Stage I; of these, two received a P/D and four a PPPD. Ten patients were at Stage Il and all received a PPPD ; 16 patients were at Stage m (under-staged pre-operatively): of these, nin e patients presented extrapleural lymph node metastases (N2) and all receiv ed a PPPD, seven patients presented with chest wall or mediastinal invasion (T4) with macroscopic residual tumour, and ail received a de-bulking P/D. We observed major complications in ten patients: six bleeding, two respirat ory insufficiency and two nerve paralysis. There were two perioperative dea ths (6.25% mortality). Twenty-seven patients out of 30 surviving surgery ha d a follow-up greater than 6 months; 21 patients out of 27 are alive with a median follow-up of 12.5 months. Conclusions: (1) Trimodality therapy is f easible in selected patients with MPM and has an acceptable operative morta lity rate. (2) Our current pre-operative staging based on CT/MRI looks rath er inaccurate and needs to be improved. (3) The high rate of post-surgical N2 patients or with diffusion to the inferior surface of the diaphragm may suggest the use of routine mediastinoscopy and laparoscopy for a more appro priate patient selection. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserve d.