A 45-year-old shipyard worker with a 25-year history of asbestos exposure presents with progressive dyspnoea and dry cough. High-resolution CT shows bilateral pleural plaques and interstitial fibrosis predominantly in the lower zones. Which malignancy is he at the greatest increased risk of developing?
- A Squamous cell carcinoma of the lung
- B Adenocarcinoma of the lung
- C Mesothelioma of the pleura ✓
- D Laryngeal carcinoma
Correct answer: C. Mesothelioma of the pleura
Explanation
Asbestos exposure is the strongest risk factor for malignant mesothelioma of the pleura and peritoneum. While asbestos also increases the risk of lung cancer (all histological types), the association with mesothelioma is the most specific and carries the highest relative risk. The combination of pleural plaques and asbestos exposure strongly points toward mesothelioma as the most characteristic asbestos-related malignancy.
Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.