todescribe MDCT protocol optimized for the evaluation of pleural disease;to report MDCT findings that allow Radiologists to suspect a Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) at its early stage;to illustrate the role of MDCT in predicting tumor resectability.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) is the most common primary neoplasm of the pleura that typically affects individuals occupationally exposed to asbestos through a variety of industries. This tumor has emerged in significant numbers of patients during the last 30 years in the industrialized countries. Because of the latency period, and continued asbestos use in the 1970s, its incidence is likely expected to reach a higher peak between years 2010 and 2030.MPM are generally divided into three histologic categories: epithelioid, sarcomatoid and biphasic. Epithelioid mesothelioma constitutes...

Mediastinal pleural thickening, volume loss of the hemithorax and extrapleural adenopathy are the most common MDCT findings in pz with MPMMediastinal pleural thickening, also minimal and focal, should always raise suspicion of MPM, especially when associated with pleural effusion and/or ipsilateral volume loss.MDCT with multiplanar reformations has high diagnostic accuracy in the prediction of tumour resectability, particularly in the evaluation of diaphragmatic involvement and is the primary modality for presurgical assessment of patients with MPM

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