Table 1 Malignant mesothelioma cases collected by the Italian national mesothelioma register (ReNaM) by sex, age classes, year of diagnosis, anatomical site, level of diagnostic certainty, area of residence, level of occupational exposure and category

Gender

     Male

1355

47.78

1481

52.22

2836

     Female

290

66.82

144

33.18

434

Age at diagnosis

     <45

14

42.42

19

57.58

33

     45-54

111

39.08

173

60.92

284

     55-64

363

41.11

520

58.89

883

     65-74

600

50.63

585

49.37

1185

     75+

557

62.94

328

37.06

885

Cancer site

     Pleura

1554

50.16

1544

49.84

3098

     Peritoneum

84

51.85

78

48.15

162

     Pericardium

7

70.00

3

30.00

10

Year of diagnosis

     2000

330

56.51

254

43.49

584

     2001

328

49.62

333

50.38

661

     2002

348

50.43

342

49.57

690

     2003

342

49.85

344

50.15

686

     2004

297

45.76

352

54.24

649

Type of diagnosis

     Certain

1264

47.13

1418

52.87

2682

     Probable

210

55.70

167

44.30

377

     Possible

171

81.04

40

18.96

211

Area of residence

     North-West

945

51.53

889

48.47

1834

     North-East

278

37.57

462

62.43

740

     Centre

141

44.34

177

55.66

318

     South and Islands

281

74.34

97

25.66

378

Occupational exposure level

     Certain

874

39.14

1359

60.86

2233

     Probable

267

67.59

128

32.41

395

     Possible

504

78.50

138

21.50

642

Occupational category

     Direct use of asbestos

224

36.58

391

63.58

615

     Presence of insulation

697

50.43

685

49.57

1382

     Atypical exposure

424

58.37

309

42.16

733

     Construction sector

300

55.56

240

44.44

540