Mesothelioma Diagnosis Staging and Prognosis

Question 1

Which staging system is most widely used for malignant pleural mesothelioma in the US?

Accepted Answer

IMIG/IASLC TNM staging system

Answer

FIGO staging

Answer

Ann Arbor classification

Answer

Dukes staging

Question 2

In the IMIG TNM staging system, Stage I mesothelioma is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

Tumor confined to the ipsilateral pleura without nodal involvement

Answer

Ipsilateral mediastinal lymph node involvement

Answer

Contralateral pleural involvement

Answer

Distant metastases present

Question 3

Which factor is the single most important determinant of survival in mesothelioma?

Accepted Answer

Histological cell type (epithelioid vs. sarcomatoid)

Answer

Age at diagnosis

Answer

Side of involvement (left vs. right)

Answer

Pleural effusion volume

Question 4

Median overall survival for malignant pleural mesothelioma treated with standard chemotherapy is approximately:

Accepted Answer

12–18 months

Answer

5 years

Answer

3–6 months

Answer

30–36 months

Question 5

The EORTC prognostic score for mesothelioma assigns worse prognosis to which patient profile?

Accepted Answer

Non-epithelioid histology, poor performance status, and high WBC

Answer

Female gender and early stage

Answer

Low LDH and no weight loss

Answer

Age under 50 with epithelioid type

Question 6

Extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) is a surgical option for which stage of mesothelioma?

Accepted Answer

Stage I or II epithelioid mesothelioma in fit patients

Answer

Stage IV any histology

Answer

Sarcomatoid mesothelioma of any stage

Answer

Any stage with contralateral disease