[Mesothelioma and familial Mediterranean fever: A relationship?].

BACKGROUND

The majority of pleural and peritoneal mesotheliomas are linked to asbestos exposure but, in around 20% of cases, no history of such exposure is found. Periodic disease is associated with recurrent serositis, which could favor the development of mesothelioma.

METHODS

We report a case of pleural mesothelioma in a 50-year-old Lebanese woman, with no detectable exposure to asbestos but suffering from periodic disease (familial Mediterranean fever) with recurrent episodes of serositis.

CONCLUSIONS

Many cases of peritoneal mesothelioma in patients with FMF are reported in the literature. This is the second reported case of pleural mesothelioma associated with periodic disease. Because of the low incidence of both diseases, further publications are required to support the hypothesis of a causal link. It is important, therefore, that all cases of an association of periodic disease and mesothelioma are reported.