Although there is lack of consensus regarding the “standard of care” for
malignant pleural mesothelioma, surgery-based multimodality therapy has demonstrated
long-term survivors in multiple retrospective and prospective trials. The authors
advocate radical or extended pleurectomy/decortication when possible, but for patients
with adequate cardiopulmonary function in whom disease is resectable only by
extrapleural pneumonectomy, this operation now has a long track record of safety and
serves a critical role in the treatment of this aggressive disease.
Keywords: Chemotherapy, Extrapleural pneumonectomy, thoracic surgery.
