Occupational exposure to asbestos is known increase the risk of developing cancer of the lungs (bronchogenic carcinoma) or of the pleura (mesothelioma). Symptoms are subtle and non-specific, diagnosis is often late and the prognosis consequently is dismal. Currently there is no accepted non-invasive tool for the early diagnosis of mesothelioma or lung cancer in asbestos-exposed subjects. In the last decade, low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has been successfully developed and validated for the early diagnosis of lung cancer in high-risk smokers. Malignant mesothelioma might, in an early stage, resemble a benign pleural plaque, which is a common finding after asbestos exposure. We target to develop low-dose CT as a tool to serially image the pleural plaques, quantify their individual and overall volume, compute the growth rate with time, and, as such, identify the presence of mesothelioma early, before symptoms occur.

Condition
Lung Cancer Mesothelioma

Further Study Details: 

Ages Eligible for Study:  50 Years   -   85 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

prior asbestos exposure at least 20 years ago documented pleural plaques

Exclusion Criteria:

prior cancer except non-melanotic skin cancer

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier  NCT00188890

Heidi C Roberts, MD      416-340-4800  Ext. 3375    Heidi.Roberts@uhn.on.ca
Brenda O'Sullivan      416-340-4800  Ext. 5686    Brenda.O'Sullivan@uhn.on.ca

Canada, Ontario
      Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto,  Ontario,  Canada; Recruiting

Study chairs or principal investigators

Heidi C Roberts, MD,  Principal Investigator,  UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK   
Michael Johnston, MD,  Principal Investigator,  UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK   

Study ID Numbers:  Asbestos Screening Study
Last Updated:  September 15, 2005
Record first received:  September 12, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00188890