The Comparison of Three Diagnostic Methods (High Resolution Computed Tomography, Spirometry, Capillary Epithelial Permeability) In the Assessment of Lungs in Malign Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is diagnosed rarely. MPM originates from mesothelial cells which are on pleural surface. Incidence of MPM is high in this area due to contacting to asbestos. Twenty patients with asbestosis and 20 patients without contacting asbestos and any chronic disease were enrolled. Chest x-ray, pulmonary function testing (PFT), thorax CT, and high-resolution computed tomograph (HRCT) were done. Tc 99m DTPA aerosol syntigraphy was performed for calculating CEP’s (Capillary epithelial permeability) results.CEP left was % 0,727 minute-1, CEP right was % 1,008 minute-1 and average CEP was % 0,872 minute-1 in patient group, CEP left was % 1,272, minute-1, CEP right % 1,227 minute-1 and average CEP was % 1,250 minute-1 in healthy group. CEP’s signs were very lower in patients group than healthy group. Patients with diffuse PT and nodular PT in CT were differing from healthy patients about average CEP results. Patients with lung fibrosis in HRCT were not differing from healthy patients about average CEP’s results. We compared pulmonary function tests and CEP’s results and saw that there was a low relationship between them. It was thought that result of the diffuse pleural effusion (PE) and pleural thickening (PT) caused importantly reduced pulmonary permeability in MPM. Tc 99m DTPA aerosol syntigraphy is a useful tool to show amount of lesions.