Priority 25 from the Mesothelioma PSP

UNCERTAINTY: What, if any, are the benefits of palliative surgery (partial pleurectomy / surgical debulking) for mesothelioma patients? (JLA PSP Priority 25)
Overall ranking 25
JLA question ID 0025/25 
Explanatory note Not available for this PSP
Evidence Systematic review - Cao C, Tian DH, Pataky KA, Yan TD. Systematic review of pleurectomy in the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Lung Cancer. 2013 Sep;81(3):319-27. doi: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2013.04.024. Epub 2013 Jun 13
Health Research Classification System category Cancer
Extra information provided by this PSP
Original uncertainty examples So after six months we were told that the only way to get one was to have the operation called 'decortication of the pleura'.  He was still relatively fit at this time with no weight loss.  After diagnosis he was offered chemo.  I feel that this operation if anything gave him no quality of life because it took him a long time to recover.  i feel that this op shortened hi life ~ The benefits of surgery in mesothelioma such as pleurectomy ~ Surgical debulking has not really shown any improvement in outcomes.
Comparison None identified
Submitted by Bereaved ~ Health Professional x 2
Outcomes to be measured Palliation of symptoms
PSP information
PSP unique ID 0025
PSP name Mesothelioma
Total number of uncertainties identified by this PSP. 53  (To see a full list of all uncertainties identified, please see the detailed spreadsheet held on the JLA website)
Date of priority setting workshop 16 December 2014