Il mesotelioma peritoneale in Lombardia: Casistica del Registro Regionale Mesoteliomi 2000-2003

The Lombardy Registry of Mesothelioma (LMR) began in 2000 as a Regional Operating Centre (ROC) of the Italian Mesothelioma Registry. The Registry has collected all new cases of malignant mesothelioma (MM) of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium and vaginal tunic of the testis in residents in the Lombardy Region (Northern Italy) since 01/01/2000 (more than 300 cases per year). In the period 2000-2003, 40 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma were evaluated: the diagnosis was confirmed in 28 subjects (15 males and 13 females; median age 68 years). Occupational exposure to asbestos was found in about 21 cases (75%), only 1 (3.6%) with familial and environmental exposure and 3 (10.7%) with unknown exposure. 81% of cases who were occupationally exposed used the asbestos as raw material. Seven subjects also have radiological findings of asbestosis or pleural plaques. These cases suggest that high levels of asbestos exposure are closely related to peritoneal mesothelioma.