Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma in an Asbestos Industry Worker: A Posthumous Case Report from Haryana, India

Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer primarily associated with asbestos exposure, affecting the mesothelial lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Despite global awareness, it remains relatively rare, with an age-standardized incidence of mesothelioma around 3 per million individuals, with Northern Europe exhibiting the highest rates. The occurrence is significantly higher in males compared to females. Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) affects the pleura and often develops after years of asbestos exposure, silently progressing until symptoms appear. MPM predominantly affects men, with cases being more common in industries such as asbestos product manufacturing, construction, demolition, shipbreaking, and mining. In exposed populations, about 7-13 men per million develop the disease annually, while in those without asbestos exposure, it is rarer at 1-2 cases per million. In India, despite widespread asbestos use, mesothelioma cases remain underdiagnosed and underreported, highlighting the importance of a smart occupational health surveillance system.