Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Partial Pleurectomy for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Prior nonrandomized studies have suggested that video-assisted thoracoscopic partial pleurectomy (VAT-PP) — involving thoracoscopic debulking with pleurectomy (visceral and parietal pleura) and decortication — might improve symptom control and survival in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). To further evaluate VAT-PP, UK investigators conducted a multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled trial of VAT-PP versus standard talc pleurodesis in 120 patients with MPM and 76 with suspected MPM. Patients were stratified as high or low risk according to EORTC (European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer) prognostic score. Patients who underwent VAT-PP or …