MALIGNANT PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA: A RARE CASE REPORT
Keywords:
Malignant pleural mesothelioma, Afghanistan, Kabul, diagnostic challenge, pleural effusion.Abstract
Background: Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive cancer primarily linked to asbestos exposure. Diagnosis remains challenging, particularly in resource-limited settings where imaging and histopathology services are constrained.
Case Presentation: A 60-year-old male presented to Ali Abad Teaching Hospital, Kabul, with a one-month history of progressive dyspnoea and cough. Initial evaluation revealed left-sided pleural effusion, initially managed as tuberculosis and bacterial infection due to nonspecific fluid analysis. Persistent effusion on follow-up prompted CT imaging, which identified a 5 cm pleural mass suspicious for MPM. Diagnostic limitations prevented confirmatory biopsy, leading to referral for specialized oncology care.
Conclusion: High clinical suspicion for MPM is warranted in refractory pleural effusions, even without known asbestos exposure. Enhanced diagnostic pathways, accessible immunohistochemistry, and multidisciplinary collaboration are urgently needed in resource-constrained regions to improve outcomes for this lethal malignancy.
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