Concomitant malignant mesothelioma of the pleura, peritoneum, and tunica vaginalis testis

Abstract

We describe the cytohistological, immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings in a 55-yr-old-man with history of asbestos exposure and diffuse malignant mesothelioma (DMM) of the pleura, peritoneum, and tunica vaginalis presenting with chest pain and scrotal swelling. Pleural fine-needle aspiration (FNA) revealed mesenchymal elements and spindle-shaped epithelial-like cells, while biopsy showed pure sarcomatous tumor invading lung parenchymal. In both samples tumor cells coexpressed cytokeratin and vimentin. Peritoneal and hydrocele effusions contained aggregates of malignant mesothelial cells. Electron microscopy showed intermediate filaments, rare desmosomes and sparse microvilli. Morphological findings were consistent with a DMM, with a biphasic pattern in the pleura and an epithelial one in the peritoneum and tunica vaginalis. Although the possibility of a multicentric origin cannot be ruled out, clinical chronologic sequence suggests that the pleura was the primary involved site, followed by spread to peritoneum and tunica vaginalis.