Malignant mesothelioma: Clinical and imaging findings

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare tumor. The incidence has been rising since the 1970s with a male to female ratio of 5:1 which is likely due to the increased frequency of occupational exposure toasbestos in men. The clinical and imaging featuresof malignant mesothelioma vary widely depending on the stage of presentation. A significantly high index of suspicion is required to make a diagnosis due to the nonspecific nature of the symptoms, signs, and early radiology. Invasive surgical procedures areoften required to obtain adequate tumor tissue samples to secure the diagnosis.