Copyright © 2004 by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR |
RE: "MESOTHELIOMA TRENDS IN THE UNITED STATES: AN UPDATE BASED ON SURVEILLANCE, EPIDEMIOLOGY, AND END RESULTS PROGRAM DATA FOR 1973 THROUGH 2003"
Envirosafe Training and Consultants, Pittsburgh, PA 15239
The article by Price and Ware (1) suggests that simian virus 40 may be contributing to some cases of mesothelioma. Readers should also be aware that this virus is not the only "agent," besides asbestos, suggested to cause mesothelioma. Other agents have also been suggested to cause this disease (table 1). Although the exact percentage of nonasbestos cases of mesothelioma has not been quantified, one study (2) did report that 11 percent of the cases investigated had no exposure to asbestos. When probable, unclassified, and nonoccupational asbestos exposures are included, this percentage may be around 20 percent (2), although some have suggested that the amount may be larger (3). It has also been shown that this disease has a familiar and spontaneous basis as well (4). A difference between asbestos and nonasbestos mesotheliomas has also been reported, with nonasbestos cases having a shorter survival time (5), occurring at a younger age, and having a different ratio by sex (2). Thus, there appear to be a large number of potential causes for mesothelioma besides asbestos.
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REFERENCES
Editor’s note: In accordance with Journal policy, Price and Ware were asked whether they wished to respond to this letter, but they chose not to do so.
REFERENCES
- Price B, Ware A. Mesothelioma trends in the United States: an update based on surveillance, epidemiology, and end results program data for 1973 through 2003. Am J Epidemiol 2004;159:107–12.
[Abstract/Free Full Text] - Yates DH, Corrin B, Stidolph PN, et al. Malignant mesothelioma in south east England: clinicopathological experience of 272 cases. Thorax 1997;52:507–12.[Abstract]
- Ilgren EB, Wagner JC. Background incidence of mesothelioma: animal and human evidence. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 1991;13:133–49.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Hubbard R. The aetiology of mesothelioma: are risk factors other than asbestos exposure important? Thorax 1997;52:406–7.
- Hirsch A, Brochard P, de Cremoux H. Features of asbestos-exposed and unexposed mesothelioma. Am J Ind Med 1982;3:413–22.[Medline]
- Das PB, Fletcher AG, Deodhare SG. Mesothelioma in an agricultural community of India: a clinicopathological study. Aust N Z J Surg 1976;46:218–26.[Web of Science][Medline]
- Huncharek M. Non-asbestos related diffuse malignant mesothelioma. Tumori 2002;88:1–9.[Web of Science][Medline]
- Health Effects Institute-Asbestos Research. Asbestos in public and commercial buildings: a literature review and synthesis of current knowledge. Cambridge, MA: Health Effects Institute-Asbestos Research, 1991. (http://www.asbestos-institute.ca/reviews/hei-ar/hei-ar.html).
- Hillerdal G, Berg J. Malignant mesothelioma secondary to chronic inflammation and old scars. Cancer 1985;55:1968–72.[CrossRef][Web of Science][Medline]
- Dogan AU. Mesothelioma in Cappadocian villages. Indoor Built Environ 2003;12:367–75. [CrossRef]
- Hoffman J, Mintzer D, Warhol MJ. Malignant mesothelioma following radiation therapy. Am J Med 1994;94:379–92.
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