BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Malignant @entity2615 is a lethal disease. Aggressive multimodality treatment protocols are reportedly associated with improved survival, but the apparent survival benefits may simply reflect @entity1 selection and the variable natural history of this @entity5 . Before embarking on our own protocol of experimental treatment for @entity2615 , we sought to identify important prognostic factors and document the survival of @entity1 treated conservatively (with palliative intent only) in our region. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all @entity1 with a diagnosis of @entity3620 seen at our center between 1987 and 1999. Since curative intent treatment had not been given, we assumed that measured survival would largely reflect the natural history of the @entity5 . RESULTS: There were 101 @entity1 (80 males and 21 females). Mean age was 65 +/- 9.2 years. Symptoms of disease were present for a median time of 5 months before the diagnosis was established. The most common presenting symptoms were @entity1353 (46 @entity1 ), @entity662 (30 @entity1 ), and @entity353 (22 @entity1 ). Sixty-eight @entity1 (68%) had a history of asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma subtypes included epithelial (43 @entity1 ), sarcomatous (26 @entity1 ), mixed (19 @entity1 ), @entity2269 (4 @entity1 ), and unspecified (9 @entity1 ). All 101 @entity1 were treated with palliative intent. Talc pleurodesis was performed in 70 @entity1 . At the time of analysis, 90 @entity1 had died and 11 remained alive. Median survival was 213 (95% CI 137-289) days. Survival for the three major histological subtypes was significantly different (log rank, P = 0.0016). Histological subtype (epithelial favorable) was the only significant independent prognostic factor (Cox proportional hazard regression, P = 0.0009). CONCLUSIONS: @entity1 with @entity2615 survive longer than those with other histological subtypes. Conservatively managed @entity1 with @entity3620 have a median survival of approximately 7 months. These data from conservatively treated @entity1 can serve as baseline information for future studies of experimental treatments.

Survival after conservative (palliative) management of XXXX .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity662 :: ('MESH:D002637', 'Disease') :: ['chest pain'] @entity353 :: ('MESH:D015431', 'Disease') :: ['weight loss'] @entity1353 :: ('MESH:D004417', 'Disease') :: ['dyspnea'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['malignancy'] @entity2269 :: ('MESH:D058405', 'Disease') :: ['desmoplastic'] @entity2615 :: ('MESH:D008654', 'Disease') :: ['mesothelioma', 'epithelial mesothelioma'] @entity3620 :: ('MESH:C562839', 'Disease') :: ['malignant mesothelioma', 'pleural malignant mesothelioma']
@entity3620 :: (MESH:C562839,Disease) :: ['pleural malignant mesothelioma']
