"Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive tumour type arising from the mesothelial surface of the pleural space. MPM is difficult to treat and commonly associated with asbestos exposure, which is its main risk factor. In Europe, the incidence is about 20 per million, with large inter-country variation. As a ban on the use of asbestos was proposed quite recently in most countries, and the median latency between asbestos exposure and MPM onset is about 40 years, incidence rates in some European nations are still rising, with peak incidences expected around 2020 and beyond. Moreover, asbestos continues to be used in many developing and emerging countries of the world, suggesting a potential mesothelioma epidemic in the future. The clinical signs are usually late and nonspecific. Chest computed tomography scanning, a key imaging procedure in MPM, usually shows unilateral pleural effusion, sometimes combined with pleural thickening …"

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