Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 Nov;1(4):491-6.
doi: 10.3978/j.issn.2225-319X.2012.11.04.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma: an epidemiological perspective

Benjamin M Robinson  1
Affiliations

Malignant pleural mesothelioma: an epidemiological perspective

Benjamin M Robinson. Ann Cardiothorac Surg. 2012 Nov.

Abstract

This paper reviews the aetiology, distribution and projected future incidence of malignant mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure is the most thoroughly established risk factor. Debate continues regarding the relative importance of the different asbestos fibre types and the contribution of Simian virus 40 (SV40). Disease incidence varies markedly within and between countries. The highest annual rates of disease, approximately 30 case per million, are reported in Australia and Great Britain. The risk of disease increases with age and is higher in men. Time from asbestos exposure to disease diagnosis is on average greater than 40 years. Non-occupational asbestos exposures contribute an increasing proportion of disease. With the exception of the United States, incidence continues to increase. In developed countries peak incidence is expected to occur before 2030.

Keywords: Asbestos; epidemiology; incidence; malignant mesothelioma.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Leigh J, Davidson P, Hendrie L, et al. Malignant mesothelioma in Australia, 1945-2000. Am J Ind Med 2002;41:188-201 - PubMed
    1. Price B, Ware A.Time trend of mesothelioma incidence in the United States and projection of future cases: an update based on SEER data for 1973 through 2005. Crit Rev Toxicol 2009;39:576-88 - PubMed
    1. British Thoracic Society Standards of Care Committee BTS statement on malignant mesothelioma in the UK, 2007. Thorax 2007;62:ii1-ii19 - PMC - PubMed
    1. Milano MT, Zhang H. Malignant pleural mesothelioma: a population-based study of survival. J Thorac Oncol 2010;5:1841-8 - PubMed
    1. McDonald JC, McDonald AD. The epidemiology of mesothelioma in historical context. Eur Respir J 1996;9:1932-42 - PubMed