Skip to main content
PMC home page
British Journal of Industrial Medicine logoLink to British Journal of Industrial Medicine
. 1974 Apr;31(2):91–104. doi: 10.1136/oem.31.2.91

Mesothelioma Register 1967-68

Morris Greenberg 1, T A Lloyd Davies 1
PMCID: PMC1009563  PMID: 4830768

Abstract

Greenberg, M., and Lloyd Davies, T. A. (1974).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,31, 91-104. Mesothelioma Register 1967-68. A register of mesothelioma cases is maintained by the Department of Employment, Medical Services Division (now Employment Medical Advisory Service). This paper describes an investigation of 413 notifications to the Register in 1967-68 from England and Wales and Scotland.

Cases were regarded as `definite' when histological confirmation of diagnosis had been obtained, either by hospital pathologists, or by the UICC Panel of Pathologists, to whom pathological material was submitted whenever possible. Two hundred and forty-six cases were accepted as `definite' and 76 cases were regarded as `definitely not' mesothelioma. The remainder were classified as `undecided' or `insufficient pathological material'. Thirty-five of the 76 cases definitely not mesothelioma had nevertheless been so described on death certificates.

The investigation carried out covers clinical aspects, survival, and evidence of exposure to asbestos. Twelve per cent of definite mesotheliomata were of peritoneal origin. The age range was 21 to 87 years, but, in general, mesothelioma occured at an earlier age than `carcinoma of bronchus and lung' or `all malignant tumours' in the Registrar General's statistical mortality tables.

Concomitant asbestosis and the finding of asbestos bodies or pleural plaques occured as frequently in those cases classified as definitely not mesothelioma as in confirmed cases.

Occupational exposure to asbestos was found in 68% of definite cases, apparently significantly more frequently than in those definitely not mesothelioma, but there was observer bias. The interval between the first exposure and death from mesothelioma exceeded 25 years in 85% of cases but was only three and a half years in one case. The duration of exposure varied widely: in 12% of cases it was under five years. The type of asbestos could be ascertained in so few cases that it was impossible to asses the rôle of crocidolite in aetiology. There were 38 definite cases in which no history of any exposure to asbestos could be obtained.

Definite mesotheliomata showed marked clustering in areas where there is substantial industrial use of asbestos. Whether this should be interpreted as evidence of causation or an effect of heightened awareness in these areas cannot be deduced from this study. Evidence is quoted suggesting that the observed annual incidence of approximately 120 definite mesotheliomata in England, Scotland, and Wales may considerably understate the true prevalence.

Full text

PDF
91

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. CAMERON J. M., LITTON A., LYON D. S. Primary carcinoma multiplex. J Clin Pathol. 1961 Nov;14:574–577. doi: 10.1136/jcp.14.6.574. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. HOURIHANE D. O. THE PATHOLOGY OF MESOTHELIOMATA AND AN ANALYSIS OF THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH ASBESTOS EXPOSURE. Thorax. 1964 May;19:268–278. doi: 10.1136/thx.19.3.268. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Hammond E. C. Smoking in relation to the death rates of one million men and women. Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 1966 Jan;19:127–204. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. McCaughey W. T. Asbestos and neoplasia: diffuse mesothelial tumors. Criteria for diagnosis of diffuse mesothelial tumors. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1965 Dec 31;132(1):603–613. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1965.tb41140.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. McEwen J., Finlayson A., Mair A., Gibson A. A. Mesothelioma in Scotland. Br Med J. 1970 Dec 5;4(5735):575–578. doi: 10.1136/bmj.4.5735.575. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Newhouse M. L., Berry G., Wagner J. C., Turok M. E. A study of the mortality of female asbestos workers. Br J Ind Med. 1972 Apr;29(2):134–141. doi: 10.1136/oem.29.2.134. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Newhouse M. L., Wagner J. C. Validation of death certificates in asbestos workers. Br J Ind Med. 1969 Oct;26(4):302–307. doi: 10.1136/oem.26.4.302. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Rous V., Studený J. Aetiology of pleural plaques. Thorax. 1970 May;25(3):270–284. doi: 10.1136/thx.25.3.270. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. WAGNER J. C., SLEGGS C. A., MARCHAND P. Diffuse pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in the North Western Cape Province. Br J Ind Med. 1960 Oct;17:260–271. doi: 10.1136/oem.17.4.260. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Wagner J. C., Gilson J. C., Berry G., Timbrell V. Epidemiology of asbestos cancers. Br Med Bull. 1971 Jan;27(1):71–76. doi: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.bmb.a070818. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Whitwell F., Rawcliffe R. M. Diffuse malignant pleural mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. Thorax. 1971 Jan;26(1):6–22. doi: 10.1136/thx.26.1.6. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from British Journal of Industrial Medicine are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES