Incidence of mesothelioma in Trinidad and Tobago during the period 2009–2014 and the demographic, aetiologic and pathological characteristics of each case

OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of mesothelioma between 2009 and 2014 and the aetiologic, pathologic and demographic characteristics of each case, and its comparisonto the incidence of mesothelioma in the years prior, to determine any changing trends and common features of mesothelioma within Trinidad and Tobago. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study is a retrospective case series study that utilized existing patient records from the Cancer Registry, Death Registry and Chest Unit of the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Death Registry of San Fernando General Hospital, Death Registry of Port-of-Spain General Hospital, Death Registry of Sangre Grande Hospital and the records of pathologists, private physicians and private hospitals. The data were submitted for analysis using the Statistical Programme for Social Sciences (SPSS). RESULTS: Results from this study show that the incidence of mesothelioma between 1995 and 2007 was 0.891 per million per annum and between 2009 and 2014, it was 1.004 per million per annum. Between 1995 and 2007, mesothelioma was far more common in patients of African descent, was most commonly localized to the pleura, was more common in males and most common in the 45–54-year age group. Between 2009 and 2014, it was more common in females and was evenly distributed amongst all age groups. CONCLUSION: The incidence of mesothelioma in 2009–2014 of 1.004 per million per annum is higher than the incidence in 1995–2007 of 0.891 per million per annum. Demographic information about mesothelioma showed a higher number of cases in African descents, higher numberof female cases in 2009–2014 and a remarkably low survival time after diagnosis

Benign epithelial mesothelioma of the corpus uteri

A case of epithelial mesothelioma of the myometrium in a 55-year-old post-menopausal patient is reported. The tumour occurred as an incidental finding in the uterus which was removed for fibroids. The histogenesis, differential diagnosis and prognosis of this rare uterine tumour are discussed (AU)

Pleural mesothelioma associated with massive hepatic calcification and unusual metastases

A case of diffuse, malignant, pleural mesothelioma is reported in a 60-year-old Negro man. The clinical picture was most unusual; when the patient presented initially with chest pain, the radiographic appearances in the chest were normal, but extensive liver calcification was demonstrated. The latter was subsequently shown to be caused by metastases from the mesothelioma which took 2 more years to produce clinical and radiographic changes in the chest. There was microscopic evidence that the extensive liver calcification was dystrophic in nature and had resulted from marked degenerative changes and necrosis in the metastatic malignant pleural mesothelioma. Radiographs of the skeleton revealed focal, translucent lesions with sclerotic margins in the right seventh rib and the right iliac. Microscopic examination showed these bony lesions to be metastases. No previous report of secondary deposits in bone producing such radiographic appearances could be found in the literature (AU)