The full guideline for the investigation and management of malignant pleural mesothelioma is published in Thorax.1 The key features of the guideline are highlighted in a short article published to accompany the full guideline.2 The following is a summary of the recommendations and good practice points. The sections referred to in the summary refer to the full guideline….
Given the nature of MPM, the majority of the guideline will be relevant to secondary care-based specialists; however, symptom recognition, management and follow-up are all relevant to community-based specialities.
Intended users include primary care general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses; hospital specialist teams in respiratory medicine, oncology, thoracic surgery and palliative care; hospices/community teams; specialist nurses (including lung cancer and palliative care); radiologists; pathologists.
Areas covered by the guideline include (1) the epidemiology and incidence of mesothelioma in the UK and worldwide, (2) the preferred investigation pathway of suspected cases of MPM, (3) consider special situations including:
- Imaging
- Histology/cytology
- Frail patient not fit for invasive tests
(4) biomarkers, (5) role of mesothelioma MDTs, (6) outline best practice in oncological management, (7) role of chemotherapy, (8) place for radiotherapy, (9) role of surgery, (10) guidance on palliation in MPM, (11) guidance on providing patients with relevant disease-specific information, including medicolegal/compensation issues, (12) summary of future therapeutic agents that might be available within the next 5 years and (13) summary of major MPM recommendations.
Non-pleural mesothelioma is excluded from this guideline.
[Article continues at original source]Mesothelioma, Asbestos, and Legal Compensation: Basic Facts
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