Mesothelioma in an Agricultural Community of India: A Clinicopathological Study

Mesothelioma is an uncommon neoplastic condition. Its association with asbestos exposure is well established, but it occurs even in non-industrial workers, and naturally there must be some other factors in its aetiology than asbestos exposure. In this report, five patients with primary mesothelioma, all belonging to a rural agricultural community with no chance of any asbestos exposure, have been documented. There was one common interesting observation, in that all five patients were associated with sugar-cane farming or an allied trade. Whether this observation is coincidental or has any aetiological bearing on mesothelioma needs further investigation. Its histopathological features, symptomatology, diagnosis, and treatment are discussed, with a brief review of the literature.