Mesothelioma associated with asbestosis.A report of 3 cases

A study of 54 autopsies of patients dying with pulmonary asbestosis disclosed 3 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, one of which was complicated by a mesothelioma of the pleura. In 2 of the 3 patients there was an occupational exposure history of 20 and 34 years in an asbestos textile plant. Although the remaining patient had classical asbestosis of the lungs at autopsy, there was no known history of industrial exposure to asbestos. The authors think asbestos can produce mesothelioma of either peritoneum or pleura; they present 3 cases to support the concept of a causal relationship. The increased utilization of asbestos material and the recent demonstration of asbestos bodies in the lungs of urban dwellers may have significant implications for cancer epidemiology in the future.