Original scientific paper
Epidemiology of Malignant Pleural Mesotheliomas in Croatia in the Period from 1989 to 1998
M. Alilović
T. Peroš-Golubičić
A. Bekić
J. Tekavec-Trkanjec
A. Ivičević
Abstract
Malignant pleural mesotheliomas are rare tumors. Their occurrence is often associated
with the exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is widely used in various industries as well
as for many types of products in everyday use. In Croatia in the period from 1989 to
1998, the rate of incidence was 0.4–1.1 / 100,000. The highest rate of incidence was in
the Districts of Istria (2.9) and Split-Dalmatia (2.5). It is more frequent among males
than among females with a ratio of 3.2:1. It rarely occurs before the age of 40 and most
of the patients suffering from the disease are more than 65 years old. About 12% of
mesotheliomas metastasize into regional lymph nodes and 17% of them into distant organs.
The disease unavoidably leads to death and, according to the data obtained in
Croatia in the period from 1989 to 1998 the mortality and incidence are very close.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
28297
URI
Publication date:
16.12.2002.
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