Mesothelioma Diagnosis Staging and Prognosis 2

Question 1

N2 disease in the IMIG TNM system for mesothelioma refers to involvement of which lymph nodes?

Accepted Answer

Subcarinal or contralateral mediastinal nodes

Answer

N2 disease indicates spread to subcarinal or contralateral mediastinal or internal mammary lymph nodes, which typically indicates unresectable disease.

Question 2

Which prognostic scoring system for mesothelioma uses lactate dehydrogenase, age, performance status, and hemoglobin?

Accepted Answer

CALGB prognostic score

Answer

The CALGB (Cancer and Leukemia Group B) prognostic score uses LDH, age, performance status, and hemoglobin to classify patients into good, intermediate, and poor risk groups.

Question 3

What does T4 disease represent in the IMIG staging of pleural mesothelioma?

Accepted Answer

Direct extension into contralateral pleura, spine, or heart

Answer

T4 denotes extension beyond local structures to involve the contralateral pleura, peritoneum, spine, heart, or brachial plexus — all indicating unresectable disease.

Question 4

Which performance status scale is most commonly used to assess mesothelioma patients' fitness for treatment?

Accepted Answer

ECOG performance status

Answer

ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) performance status 0–2 is the standard measure used in clinical trials and treatment decisions for mesothelioma.

Question 5

Peritoneal mesothelioma staging uses the Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI), where a PCI score above what threshold generally predicts incomplete cytoreduction?

Accepted Answer

20

Answer

A PCI score above approximately 20 is generally associated with inability to achieve complete cytoreduction (CC-0), which is required for optimal survival benefit.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Practice Test

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Practice Test

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Staging and Prognosis 2