Frequency of Pleural Mesothelioma in Mexican Women. Case Study
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Abstract
Introduction: Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive tumor, which is uncommon in women and requires further clinical characterization.
Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases (January-December 2024), which included 21 women with a histological diagnosis.
Results: The mean age was 63.5 years, and 38% reported domestic exposure to asbestos. All patients presented with pleural effusion, 57% with hypoxemia, and more than half required emergency care. The diagnosis was obtained mainly through VATS, with a diagnostic yield of 100% in all modalities. The predominant histological subtype was epithelioid in 90% of cases, and all were classified as stage IV.
Conclusions: Pleural mesothelioma in women continues to be a late-diagnosed entity, with high clinical severity and frequently unrecognized exposure to asbestos. The constant presence of pleural effusion and the high proportion of stage IV patients highlight the priority of reinforcing diagnostic suspicion and timely access to highly cost-effective invasive methods, especially in contexts where domestic exposure may go unnoticed.
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