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BACKGROUND: The incidence of malignant mesothelioma continues to increase, but the disease remains difficult to detect early and treat effectively. METHODS: The authors review the pathogenesis, incidence, clinical presentation, diagnosis, pathology, and both standard and experimental treatments for mesothelioma. RESULTS: When possible, surgery (video-assisted thoracoscopy, pleurectomy/decortication, or extrapleural pneumonectomy) is utilized. Effects on underlying structures limit application of radiation therapy, but some systemic agents are beginning to enhance survival. CONCLUSIONS: The disease is expected to increase in incidence till 2020, so awareness of this entity as a possible diagnosis should be heightened. In patients with advanced disease, several newer antitumor agents are already showing a capability of extending survival so it is not unreasonable to expect further progress in this area.
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Ismail-Khan et al. (2006) studied this question.
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