PubMed2002
Of a total of 4455 persons with mesotheliomas listed in the German register of mesotheliomas, 72 patients have an academic education in whom exposure to asbestos would not necessarily be assumed at first. Only one patient in this group was female. The tumors were located in the pleura in 94% ( n=68) and in the peritoneum in 6% ( n=4). The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 59.1 years. The mean survival time was 10.2 months. The epitheloid subtype predominated (57.7%, n=41) followed by the biphasic subtype (33.8%, n=24). Development of the sarcomatoid subtype was the least common (8.5%, n=6). Lung dust analysis provided proof for elevated pulmonary asbestos load in 78.2% of the patients. Work-related or non-work-related exposure to asbestos was cited or at least suspected by 68% ( n=49) of the patients. The mean latency period was 36.8 years. Thus, in those patients with an academic career the majority of mesotheliomas can be considered associated with asbestos.