Malignant pleural mesothelioma in a child

•Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare and aggressive pediatric neoplasm.•A limited number of case reports form the body of pediatric literature.•We document successful treatment of an 8-year old male diagnosed with MPM.•A right pneumonectomy and chest wall excision were performed.•Chemotherapy with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin was given.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignancy that occurs extremely rarely in the pediatric population. It carries a dismal prognosis. Adult studies are often used to guide therapy in the pediatric population, as a limited number of case reports form the body of pediatric literature. Herein, we document the course and treatment of an 8-year old male diagnosed with MPM. The diagnosis came after he presented to his family physician with dyspnea and was found to have a large right-sided chest mass on subsequent imaging. Through an initial right pneumonectomy and subsequent chest wall excision, followed by chemotherapy with Pemetrexed and Cisplatin he remains virtually disease free today, almost 2 years following surgery.