Measurement of mesothelin in pleural fluid is best for the diagnosis and exclusion of mesothelioma than cytology, according to a study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Patients with mesothelioma have concentrations of mesothelin in pleural fluid from 7 to 12 times greater than patients with metastatic cancers or benign pleural effusions. Moreover, compared with cytology, pleural fluid mesothelin had better sensitivity, similar specificity and a greater negative predictive value.
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