New Updates of the Imaging Role in Diagnosis, Staging, and Response Treatment of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Abstract

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a rare neoplasm with poor prognosis. CT is the first imaging technique used for diagnosis, staging, and assessment of therapy response. Although, CT has intrinsic limitations due to low soft tissue contrast and the current staging system as well as criteria for evaluating response, it does not consider the complex growth pattern of this tumor. Computer-based methods have proven their potentiality in diagnosis, staging, prognosis, and assessment of therapy response; moreover, computer-based methods can make feasible tasks like segmentation that would otherwise be impracticable. MRI, thanks to its high soft tissue contrast evaluation of contrast enhancement and through diffusion-weighted-images, could replace CT in many clinical settings.

Keywords: computer-based methods; magnetic resonance; malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Figure 1

Axial CT scan after contrast administration reconstructed with smooth kernel with mediastinal windows demonstrates circumferential pleural nodular thickening with mediastinal pleura involvement (asterisk) and pleural effusion (arrow).

Figure 2

Flow chart of all the harvested papers.

Figure 3

T2-weighted image acquired in the axial plane clearly demonstrates circumferential pleural thickening with mediastinal pleura involvement (asterisk) and pleural effusion (arrow).