Cure mesothelioma

A circumferential pleural mass with the imaging characteristics described above is likely to be malignant. Metastases, predominantly adenocarcinoma (especially lung, breast, GI, kidney and ovaries) thyroid or melanoma, often result from peripheral pulmonary tumor emboli with resultant pleural involvement. Diffuse mesothelioma can have this radiographic appearance. Lymphoma, most commonly Hodgkin's disease (both the intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary forms), can have direct pleural involvement. Malignant thymoma can present as an anterior mediastinal mass that contiguously spreads to involve pleura. Less likely considerations include focal post inflammatory thickening; however, there is usually associated parenchymal disease. Splenosis related to prior splenic trauma with diaphragmatic rupture could have similar pleural thickening but should not have lymph node enlargement. Finally, a loculated pleural effusion could have such pleural thickening.