Mesothelioma and Its Association With Asbestosis

Within a three-year period in a community hospital, 17 cases of mesothelioma, nine of the pleura and eight of the peritoneum, were found at surgery. Two of our patients contracted this malignancy with only environmental exposure consisting of living in a community adjacent to the asbestos mill. In the same hospital, there has been a high incidence of bronchogenic carcinoma with asbestosis. A review of the autopsy material of the past decade brought to light only one additional case. It is our belief that the incidence of mesothelioma is increasing as is the incidence of asbestosis, with the increasing application of this product in many different industries.