Table 1 Patient profiles
|  | Patient numbers (%) | Age average ± SD (min-max in year) | Gender Male/Female |
|---|---|---|---|
Malignant mesothelioma | 95 (48.0) | 63.0 ± 11.0 (26-86) | 49/46 |
 Epitheloid | 66 (69.5) | ||
 Mixed (Biphasic) | 15 (15.8) | ||
 Sarcomatoid | 8 (8.4) | ||
 Undefined | 6 (6.3) | ||
Metastatic cancers to pleura | 56 (28.3) | 61.6 ± 11.2 (34-85) | 32/24 |
 Lung cancer | 38 (67.9) | 62.2 ± 11.9 (34-85) | 27/11 |
 Other type of cancera | 18 (32.1) | 60.4 ± 9.7 (39-77) | 5/13 |
Non-malignant pleural diseases | 47 (23.7) | 55.8 ± 17.0 (19-81) | 36/11 |
 Benign asbestos pleurisy | 20 (42.6) | 61.7 ± 12.9 (40-81) | 17/3 |
 Benign pleural diseasesb | 27 (57.4) | 51.4 ± 18.6 (19-77) | 19/8 |
Total | 198 | Â | Â |