Mesothelioma Epidemiology

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the last 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. The incidence is approximately one case per one million inhabitants. By comparison, populations with high levels of smoking can achieve the effect of over a thousand lung cancer per million inhabitants.

The incidence of malignant mesothelioma, currently at a level of about 7 to 40 cases per 1 000 000 inhabitants in Western industrialized nations, according to the importance of population exposure to asbestos during the past decades. It was estimated that the incidence in the United States could achieve a 15 per 1 000 000 inhabitants in 2004. It is expected that the incidence continues to grow in other parts of the world. Mesothelioma occurs more often in men than in women and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age. Approximately one fifth to one third of all mesotheliomas are peritoneal tumors.

It may be noted that an epidemic of mesothelioma was discovered in three Turkish villages (Karain, and tuzkoy Sarehidir) located in Cappadocia. it is now responsible for 50% of deaths there .