Confirmatory validation of the Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool-Patients: A brief patient-reported outcome measure assessing psychological distress in malignant mesothelioma patients.

OBJECTIVE: Psychological suffering in patients with Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is different from the one experienced by patients with other cancers due to its occupational or environmental etiology and its peculiar symptomatology and prognosis (i.e., poor prognosis, reduced effectiveness of the therapies, poor quality of residual life, and advanced age at the time of diagnosis). Therefore, the Mesothelioma Psychological Distress Tool-Patients (MPDT-P) has been developed to evaluate the specific profile of psychological suffering in this population. This paper describes the item selection, factor analysis, and psychometric evaluation of the revised MPDT-P. METHODS: The analyses of the current work aimed to confirm the factorial structure found in the first version of the MPDT-P. In the case of nonfit, it aimed to find an alternative structure and causes of nonfit in the model. The search for the fit of the factorial model was conducted using a Bayesian approach. RESULTS: The two-factor model reported in the first version of the instrument did not fit the data. Confirmatory Bayesian analyses showed adequate fit for the three-factor solution. Based on the content of the items, we labeled the factors as dysfunctional emotions, claims for justice, and anxieties about the future. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating the MPDT-P into clinical practice could help clinicians gain insight into the specific suffering related to MM and investigate potential differences related to different occupational and environmental exposure contexts.

Ovarian cancer deaths attributable to asbestos exposure in Lombardy (Italy) in 2000-2018.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to estimate the fraction of deaths from ovarian cancer attributable to asbestos exposure in Lombardy Region, Italy, using a novel approach that exploits the fact that ovarian cancer asbestos exposure is associated with pleural cancer and other risk factors for breast cancer. METHODS: This ecological study is based on the Italian National Institute of Statistics mortality data. We formulate a trivariate Bayesian joint disease model to estimate the attributable fraction (AF) and the number of ovarian cancer deaths attributable to asbestos exposure from the geographic distribution of ovarian, pleural and breast cancer mortality at the municipality level from 2000 to 2018. Expected deaths and standardised mortality ratios were calculated using regional rates. RESULTS: We found shared dependencies between ovarian and pleural cancer, which capture risk factors common to the two diseases (asbestos exposure), and a spatially structured clustering component shared between ovarian and breast cancer, capturing other risk factors. Based on 10 462 ovarian cancer deaths, we estimated that 574 (95% credibility interval 388-819) were attributable to asbestos (AF 5.5%; 95% credibility interval 3.7-7.8). AF reaches 34%-47% in some municipalities with known heavy asbestos pollution. CONCLUSIONS: The impact of asbestos on ovarian cancer occurrence can be relevant, particularly in areas with high asbestos exposure. Estimating attributable cases was possible only by using advanced Bayesian modelling to consider other risk factors for ovarian cancer. These findings are instrumental in tailoring public health surveillance programmes and implementing compensation and prevention policies.

Sinonasal Cancer Cases in a Nationwide Hospital Cancer Registry in Brazil, 2007-2021.

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal cancers (SNC) are rare cancers with a high proportion attributable to occupational carcinogens. This study aims to describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and occupational characteristics of subjects with SNC in Brazil. METHODS: Observational study conducted with secondary data from a network of Hospital Cancer Registries. We selected epithelial/unspecified SNC records with a year of diagnosis from 2007 to 2021. We performed descriptive statistics of SNC cases and calculated crude and age-standardized rates (ASR, standard: world population) by gender and Region of residence. RESULTS: We identified 2,384 cases, 1,553 (65.1%) in men and 831 (34.9%) in women. The mean age at diagnosis was 59 years for both. Most SNC (50.7% in men and 53.2% in women) originated from the maxillary sinus. Most (65.5% in men and 54.5% in women) were squamous cell carcinomas. Information on occupation was missing in the years 2019-2021. Most male SNC patients (44.8%) were employed in group 6 (Agricultural, forestry, and fishing workers), while women had been mainly (34.6%) working in groups 8 (Workers in the production of industrial goods and services, machine operators) and in group 6 (27.6%). Crude SNC incidence rates were 1.0 per million person-years in men and 0.5 in women, while ASR were 1.0 and 0.4, respectively. In both genders, the highest ASR was in Minas Gerais (men: 1.9; women: 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Establishing the profile of Brazilians with sinonasal cancer can stimulate epidemiologic research for monitoring this group of cancers with a high association with occupational exposures.

Survival of Patients with Sinonasal Cancers in a Population-Based Registry, Lombardy, Italy, 2008-2023.

Sinonasal cancers (SNCs) are rare malignancies associated with occupational exposures. The aim of this study was to analyse the survival of SNC patients using data from the population-based SNC registry of the Lombardy region (10 million people), Italy. We included epithelial SNC cases registered in 2008-2020 and followed-up for vital status until 31 July 2023. Multivariate flexible parametric models with time-dependent covariates were fitted to calculate excess hazard ratios (EHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of death. Based on 827 cases (553 males, 274 females) and 514 deaths (345 males, 169 females), the 5-year observed survival was 49% and the net survival was 57%. Age had a substantial impact on survival, particularly within the first year (EHR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.12-1.51 per 10 years). Compared with the nasal cavity, the EHR for paranasal sinuses was 4.70 (95% CI, 2.96-7.47) soon after diagnosis. Compared with squamous cell carcinomas, the EHR was 0.69 (95% CI, 0.52-0.91) for adenocarcinomas, 1.68 (95% CI, 1.20-2.35) for undifferentiated and unspecified carcinomas, and 1.78 (95% CI, 1.07-2.95) for neuroendocrine carcinomas. Age and cancer site showed time-dependent effects on prognosis, especially within the first month after diagnosis. Prognosis was also markedly affected by cancer morphology. No associations were found for gender and period of diagnosis.

The psychological impact of diagnosis of sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers: a systematic review.

Objective: High risk of degraded quality of life and psychological distress is observed in patients diagnosed with sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers, which could be caused by exposure to carcinogens in workplaces. This review aimed to investigate the psychological impact of diagnosis associated with the possible occupational etiology of such neoplasms and to explore the instruments that evaluate the quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression in these patients. Methods: Studies were considered for the review only if they described aspects of the psychological impact of the diagnosis of sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers and reported results distinguished by the tumor site. The psychological impact was assessed in terms of health-related QoL, anxiety, and depression using reliable psychometric questionnaires administered at the time of diagnosis and 1 year later. Results: In more than 5,900 records identified, 442 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and 436 were excluded after full-text screening, resulting in six studies to be finally included in the review. The EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), EORTC QLQ-H&N35, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) were used to evaluate the QoL, whereas the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaires were employed to assess anxiety and depression. QoL scores were similar to those of the general population at the time of diagnosis and remained unchanged or slightly improved at 1 year since diagnosis. In contrast, a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression was observed compared with the general population, although the results were inconsistent across the very few studies identified. No study investigating the association between the potential occupational etiology and QoL or distress was found. Conclusion: Exploring the existing scientific literature on emotional distress in sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer patients was prompted by concerns over the disfiguring nature of treatment and the additional emotional burden resulting from their occupational etiology. Unfortunately, neither a crucial element nor other risk factors (lifestyle, smoking, drinking, etc.) were examined in any study. Patients' employment history should be considered in order to assess the possible impact of believing they are affected by an occupational exposure disease in the evaluation of their psychological distress. This history would support evidence-based recommendations about dedicated psychological interventions.

Gender Differences in Sinonasal Cancer Incidence: Data from the Italian Registry.

BACKGROUND: Although rare, sinonasal cancers (SNCs) have a high occupational attributable fraction. METHODS: We applied gender-based approaches to descriptive analyses, incidence, and patterns of exposures using the Italian National Sinonasal Cancer Registry (ReNaTuNS: Registro Nazionale Tumori Naso-Sinusali). RESULTS: The study included 2851 SNC patients. SNC was diagnosed more often in men (73%) than in women (27%). The most frequent morphology in men was intestinal-type adenocarcinoma (33%), whereas in women, it was squamous cell carcinoma (49%). Nasal cavities were predominant in both genders (50%), ethmoidal sinus in men (24%), and maxillary in women (24%). Incidence rates were 0.76 (per 100,000 person-years) in men and 0.24 in women and increased by age, more evidently in men, peaking over 75 years in both. Occupational exposures to wood and leather dusts were the most frequent (41% for men, 33% for women). Few exposures were extra-occupational or domestic. Unlikely exposure was relevant in women (57%). CONCLUSIONS: The surveillance of SNC cases through a registry that allows for the identification of and compensation for this occupational disease is important in Italy, where numerous workers are exposed to carcinogens for SNC, without even being aware. Considering the rarity of the disease, particularly among women, the ReNaTuNS can provide a method to analyze gender differences.

Sensibilidade e especificidade dos registros de câncer nas notificações do mesotelioma maligno / Sensibilidad y especificidad de los registros de cáncer en las notificaciones del mesotelioma maligno / Sensitivity and specificity of the reporting of malignant mesothelioma

RESUMO Objetivo: Mensurar a sensibilidade e especificidade das notificações de mesotelioma maligno do Registro de Câncer Base Populacional de Curitiba/Paraná. Método: Estudo retrospectivo, transversal, realizado no registro de câncer de base populacional de Curitiba e em 11 fontes notificadoras, de janeiro a dezembro de 2017. A amostra final foi composta por 92 prontuários de pacientes adultos, com diagnóstico e notificação de registrados com câncer de topografia C38 (pleura, coração e mediastino) e C48 (peritônio e retroperitônio). Para análise da sensibilidade e especificidade utilizou-se o software Stata 14, com análise da consistência interna; para cada caso notificado pelo registro foi examinado o prontuário da fonte notificadora correspondente, considerando-o como padrão ouro. Resultados: A sensibilidade do registro em notificar mesotelioma (CID-10: C45) e câncer de pleura (CID-10: C38.4) foi de 100% (8/8) e 50% (1/2), respectivamente. A especificidade foi 90,2% (74/82), tendo oito casos de outros cânceres classificados como câncer de pleura. Conclusões: O registro apresentou alta sensibilidade para notificar mesotelioma maligno, não havendo subnotificação para esses casos, e uma sobre-estimativa para as notificações de câncer de pleura (nove ao invés de um) devido à notificação errônea e equívoca.

resumen Objetivo: determinar la sensibilidad y especificidad de las notificaciones de mesotelioma maligno del Registro de Cáncer Base Poblacional de Curitiba/Paraná/Brasil. Método: estudio retrospectivo, transversal, realizado en el registro de cáncer de base poblacional de Curitiba y en 11 fuentes notificantes, de enero a diciembre de 2017. La muestra final fue compuesta por 92 registros médicos de pacientes adultos, con el diagnóstico y la notificación de registrados con cáncer de topografía C38 (pleura, corazón y mediastino) y C48 (peritoneo y retroperitoneo). Para el análisis de la sensibilidad y especificidad se utilizó el software Stata 14, con análisis de la consistencia interna. Para cada caso notificado por el registro, fue examinado el registro médico de la fuente que ha notificado, considerándolo como estándar de oro. Resultados: la sensibilidad del registro para notificar mesotelioma (CID-10: C45) y cáncer de pleura (CID-10: C38.4) fue de 100% (8/8) y 50% (1/2), respectivamente. La especificidad fueel90,2% (74/82), con ocho casos de otros cánceres clasificados como cáncer de pleura. Conclusiones: el registro presentó alta sensibilidad para notificar mesotelioma maligno, no existiendo subnotificación para estos casos, y un incremento para las notificaciones de cáncer de pleura (nueve al revés de uno) debido a la notificación incorrecta y equivocada.

ABSTRACT Objective: To measure the sensitivity and specificity of the reporting of malignant mesothelioma in the Population-Based Cancer Registry in Curitiba, PA, Brazil. Method: Retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted in the Population-Based Cancer Registry in Curitiba and 11 reporting institutions, from January to December 2017. The final sample was composed of 92 medical records of adult patients, with diagnoses and reporting of cancer, with topographical codes C38 (pleura, heart, and mediastinum) and C48 (peritoneum and retroperitoneum). Stata 14 was used to analyze sensitivity and specificity, and internal consistency. Each medical record (considered the gold standard) provided by the reporting institutions was compared to those in the registry. Results: The registry sensitivity in reporting mesothelioma (ICD-10: C45) and pleural cancer (ICD-10: C38.4) was 100% (8/8) and 50% (1/2), respectively. Specificity was 90.2% (74/82), as eight cases were wrongly classified as pleural cancer. Conclusions: the registry presented high sensitivity in the reporting of malignant mesothelioma, with no underreporting, and overestimated pleural cancer reporting (nine instead of one) due to erroneous and misleading reporting.

Uma proposta de criação de um sistema para monitoramento dos casos de mesotelioma maligno em Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil / A proposal for the creation of a system to monitor cases of malignant mesothelioma in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil / Una propuesta de creación de un sistema para la supervisión de los casos de mesotelioma maligno en Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil

Este estudo objetivou propor a criação de um sistema de monitoramento dos casos de mesotelioma maligno no Município de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil, desenvolvido com base no modelo italiano. Trata-se de uma pesquisa-ação tipo diagnóstica, que utiliza as fases exploratória e de planejamento, desenvolvida no período de julho de 2015 a maio de 2017. Utilizaram-se como ferramentas de busca os seguintes instrumentos: Integrador de Registro Hospitalar de Câncer, com as morfologias específicas para mesotelioma; Registro Hospitalar de Câncer, com os códigos C38.4 e C45, da Classificação Internacional de Doenças, 10ª revisão, e/ou registros codificados pelo CID-O, com as topografias C38 e C48; Registro de Câncer de base populacional da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Curitiba, com os mesmos códigos. Também foram conhecidos, analisados e adaptados para a realidade brasileira o modelo, os questionários e o software de registro de mesotelioma da Lombardia, na Itália. Observou-se que, no Integrador de Registro Hospitalar de Câncer, foram registrados 15 casos de mesotelioma. No Registro Hospitalar de Câncer do hospital universitário, foram dois. No hospital oncológico, 16. Os dados do Registro de Câncer de Base Populacional, por sua vez, indicaram 317 registros relativos ao período. Apesar de algumas informações estarem mais completas, existe a falta de dados relacionados à história laboral, impossibilitando estabelecer o nexo causal. Com o aumento do número de casos de mesotelioma previstos para as próximas décadas e o atendimento às demandas legais, a implantação de registros torna-se essencial para auxiliar no conhecimento, no acompanhamento, na determinação de nexo causal e nas fontes de contaminação específicas no país.

The study proposes the creation of a system to monitor cases of malignant mesothelioma in the municipality of Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil, based on the Italian model. This diagnosis-type action-research project featured exploratory and planning phases conducted from July 2015 to May 2017. The following search tools were used: Hospital-Based Cancer Registries Integrator with specific morphologies for mesothelioma; Hospital-Based Cancer Registry with codes C38.4 and C45 of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, and/or records coded by the ICD-O with topographies C38 and C48; Population-Based Cancer Registry of the Curitiba Municipal Health Department, with the same codes. The study also identified, analyzed, and adapted to the Brazilian reality the model, questionnaires, and registry software for mesothelioma from Lombardy, Italy. Fifteen cases of mesothelioma were recorded in the Hospital-Based Cancer Registries Integrator. Two cases were recorded in the University Hospital-Based Cancer Registry and 16 in the Cancer Hospital. There were 317 cases recorded in the Population-Based Cancer Registry during the same period. Although some information was complete, data were lacking on patients' occupational history, thereby preventing the determination of a causal nexus. Given a predicted increase in cases of mesothelioma in the coming decades and the response to court cases, the implementation of registries has become essential to facilitate knowledge and follow-up on the determination of the causal link and specific sources of asbestos exposure in the country.

El objetivo de este estudio fue proponer la creación de un sistema de monitoreo de casos de mesotelioma maligno en el municipio de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil, desarrollado en base al modelo italiano. Se trata de una investigación-acción de tipo diagnóstica, que usa fases de carácter exploratorio y de planificación, desarrolladas durante el período de julio de 2015 a mayo de 2017. Se utilizaron como herramientas de búsqueda los siguientes instrumentos: Integrador del Registro Hospitalario de Cáncer con morfologías específicas para mesotelioma; Registro Hospitalario de Cáncer con los códigos C38.4 y C45, procedentes de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades décima revisión, y/o registros codificados por el CID-O con topografías C38 y C48; Registro de Cáncer de base poblacional de la Secretaría Municipal de Salud de Curitiba con los mismos códigos. También se presentaron, analizaron y adaptaron a la realidad brasileña el modelo, los cuestionarios y el software de registro de mesotelioma de Lombardía, en Italia. Se observó que, en el Integrador de Registro Hospitalario de Cáncer, se registraron 15 casos de mesotelioma. En el Registro Hospitalario de Cáncer del hospital universitario, fueron dos. En el hospital oncológico, 16. Los datos del Registro de Cáncer de Base Poblacional, a su vez, indicaron 317 registros relacionados con este período. A pesar de que algunos datos estaban más completos, existe una falta de datos relacionados con la historia laboral, imposibilitando establecer el nexo causal. Con el aumento del número de casos de mesotelioma previstos para las próximas décadas, y la atención a las demandas legales, la implantación de los registros se convierte en esencial para apoyar el conocimiento, el seguimiento, así como la determinación del nexo causal y las fuentes de contaminación específicas en el país.

Monitoramento do mesotelioma no sul do brasil: uma realidade ainda a ser estudada* / Monitoring of mesothelioma in southern brazil: a situation to be investigated / Inspección del mesotelioma en sur de brasil: una realidad que todavía debe ser estudiada

O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores de crisotila do mundo, mas a ocorrência de mesotelioma é aparentemente baixa. No entanto, a identificação dos casos torna-se difícil por causa de erros de diagnóstico e registro de morte. Este é um estudo epidemiológico, descritivo e retrospectivo de registros hospitalares do Instituto Nacional de Câncer do Brasil, foram selecionados registros câncer de pleura ou histologia do mesotelioma entre 2001-2014. Foram identificados 208 registros, entretanto apenas 58 casos com histologia de mesotelioma. Notavelmente, 13 (22%) tinham sido codificados incorretamente como câncer de pulmão. A última atividade laboral estava ausente em metade dos casos. Concluiu-se que os dados hospitalares existentes em relação ao mesotelioma ainda são inadequados por imprecisão e codificação errônea. Além disso, nos registros ainda não existem informações do local de trabalho, bem como da ocupação. Estes achados confirmam a necessidade de um registro de casos de mesotelioma (AU).

Brazil is one of the world's greatest producers of chrysotile, but the occurrence of mesothelioma is apparently low. However, identification of cases of mesothelioma is difficult due to errors of diagnosis and registries of deaths. This is an epidemiological, descriptive and retrospective study of hospital records of Brazil's National Institute of Cancer (INCA). Records of pleural cancer or mesothelioma histology from the 2001-2014 period were selected. We identified 208 records, but only 58 cases of mesothelioma histology. Notably, 13 (22%) had been incorrectly coded as lung cancer. In half the cases, there was no registration of the latest occupations of the patients. We conclude that hospital data on mesothelioma is still imprecise and was incorrectly coded. Besides, the registries do not include information on the workplace and occupation. These findings confirm the need for a proper registry of cases of mesothelioma (AU).

Mientras se apunta que Brasil es un de los mayores productores de crisotila en el mundo, la ocurrencia de mesotelioma es aparentemente baja. Sin embargo, la identificación de los casos es dificil a causa de errores de diagnóstico y registro de muerte. Este es un estudio epidemiológico, descriptivo y retrospectivo de registros hospitalarios del Instituto Nacional de Cáncer de Brasil. Fueron seleccionados registros de cáncer de pleura o histología del mesotelioma entre 2001 y 2014. Se identificaron 208 registros, pero solamente 58 casos con histología de mesotelioma. Se constató que 13 (22%) fueron codificados de modo incorrecto como cáncer de pulmón. La última actividad laboral no estaba presente en mitad de los casos. Se concluye que los datos hospitalarios existentes acerca del mesotelioma todavía son inadecuados por imprecisión y codificación errónea. Además, en los registros no hay informaciones del local de trabajo, así como de la ocupación del paciente. Estos hallados confirman la necesidad de un registro de casos de mesotelioma (AU).