Study: Talc Pleurodesis a Viable Option for Mesothelioma

Some patients with mesothelioma should consider the less-invasive talc pleurodesis procedure instead of aggressive, tumor-removing surgery, based on recent research from doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital. Although talc pleurodesis is considered only palliative, survival time often is not significantly different between the two procedures, according to the study published by Journal of Thoracic Disease. “There should be comprehensive conversation with your physician about treatment options, not only about survival, but about quality of life,” Dr. Emanuela Taioli, department of thoracic surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Asbestos.com. “Going through this kind of thoracic surgery is an extensive process.” A Comprehensive Review of Talc Pleurodesis Taioli led a group of researchers including Maaike van Gerwen, of the Institute for Translational Epidemiology at Icahn, and thoracic surgeon Raja Flores at Mount Sinai Hospital. The research included a comprehensive review of 49 previous studies that focused on survival rates comparing talc pleurodesis to aggressive surgery after a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. The average survival of patients treated with talc pleurodesis was 14 months, compared to just 17 months for those having the aggressive pleurectomy and decortication (P/D) surgery and 24 months for the even more aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP). “A person may choose to do the talc, knowing survival might be a little shorter, but clear...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Tags: Emanuela Taioli extrapleural pneumonectomy Institute for Translational Epidemiology Journal of Thoracic Disease Maaike van Gerwen mesothelioma surgery Mount Sinai Hospital pleural effusions pleural mesothelioma pleurectomy and decorticat Source Type: news