Biphasic Mesothelioma
Biphasic mesothelioma contains both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells within the same tumor, accounting for 20–35% of cases. Prognosis and treatment response depend on the ratio of cell types present. Tumors with a higher proportion of epithelioid cells respond better to treatment and carry a more favorable outlook.
Biphasic mesothelioma is classified as mixed because the tumor contains regions of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells. The relative proportion of each cell type is a critical prognostic factor — tumors with predominantly epithelioid cells behave more like pure epithelioid mesothelioma, while those with a higher sarcomatoid component are more aggressive.
Accurate diagnosis of biphasic mesothelioma requires a sufficiently large tissue sample to identify both cell types. Small biopsies may only capture one cell type, potentially leading to misclassification. Surgical biopsies or thoracoscopic biopsies are preferred for this reason.
Treatment planning for biphasic mesothelioma should account for the dominant cell type. Patients with predominantly epithelioid tumors may be candidates for surgery and multimodal treatment, while those with a higher sarcomatoid component may benefit more from immunotherapy-based approaches. Discuss all treatment options with a mesothelioma specialist.
- Also known as
- Mixed mesothelioma, Biphasic malignant mesothelioma
- Category
- Medical
- Related terms
- Epithelioid Mesothelioma, Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma, Biopsy, Prognosis
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