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Mesothelioma and Tuberculosis
Mesothelioma in connection to asbestos is a relatively modern discovery. The connection was first made in the 1930s[1]. Since then, mesothelioma has been described as an aggressive, rare form of cancer that is impossible to cure. Most often, mesothelioma develops in the lungs of workers who had occupational exposure to asbestos.
In some cases, mesothelioma can occur concurrently with tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is a highly infectious bacterial infection that most often affects the lungs. The most well-known symptom is coughing up blood, but tuberculosis may also present symptoms such as weight loss, loss of appetite, fever, weakness, fatigue, and night sweats[2]. Unlike asbestos-related mesothelioma, tuberculosis has been a known disease since ancient times.[3]
In some cases, mesothelioma can be misdiagnosed as mesothelioma, as both are rare conditions that share symptoms. Some of these shared symptoms include chest pain, painful coughing, unusual lumps under the skin, shortness of breath, and unexplained weight loss[4]. However, while mesothelioma is incurable, tuberculosis can be eliminated with medication[5].
Because of the common misdiagnosis of mesothelioma, there have been cases presented of treating the wrong disease. One such case was reported in which a patient was erroneously treated for tuberculosis. By the time doctors realized the true diagnosis, the mesothelioma had metastasized to the liver. This case was reported to highlight the need for imaging and high index of suspicion for those who may have mesothelioma.[6]
In rare instances, mesothelioma is not caused by asbestos exposure. It may be caused by exposure to other minerals and viruses. In addition, there are extremely rare cases when mesothelioma is caused by scarring on the lungs, such as what is caused by tuberculosis as well as scarring from treatment for tuberculosis. Additional cases have been associated with illnesses including tuberculosis itself[7].
There have also been other instances of tuberculosis and mesothelioma happening concurrently[8]. With concurrent diagnoses, treatment for both or either diseases becomes more complicated. Tuberculosis is often treated with chemotherapy[9], as is mesothelioma. These drugs may not be able to be used together[10], so alternative therapy may be necessary for both or either diseases.
In addition, chemotherapy and radiotherapy used for treating mesothelioma can weaken the immune system[11], meaning tuberculosis may be harder to fight, and dormant tuberculosis bacteria in a patient’s system may become active.
[1] http://eknygos.lsmuni.lt/springer/266/Part%20One/5%20Item.pdf
[2] https://medlineplus.gov/tuberculosis.html
[3] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5432783/
[4] https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mesothelioma/symptoms-causes/syc-20375022
[5] https://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factseries/cure_eng.htm
[6] https://academicjournals.org/journal/IJMMS/article-full-text-pdf/E31946B56912
[7] https://www.archivesofpathology.org/doi/pdf/10.5858/arpa.2011-0039-RA
[8] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221300711630168X
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1592088/
[10] https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4490
[11] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4955940/
