What is Mesothelioma?

January 21, 2010 by admin
Filed under Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that develops in the tissues around the lungs (the “pleura”), abdomen (the “peritoneum”) or the heart (the “pericardium”). Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. In contrast, lung cancer refers to malignant disease, but the lung itself.

This section does not in any way a diagnostic tool nor a substitute for consultation with a physician specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. This section is designed solely to help you learn about mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma of the pleura
Pleural mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the pleura, is a tumor in the tissues surrounding the lungs. The pleura is a thin layer of tissue that surrounds the lungs and lines the inside of the chest. In order to protect the lungs, the pleura produces a small amount of fluid that helps cover the lungs causing more uniform movements during breathing.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms may include breathing problems, chest pains, back pains, pains in the ribs, fluid accumulation in the tissue lining the lungs, hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and arms muscle weakness, paralysis and sensory loss.

Pleural mesothelioma benign (not cancerous)
Benign pleural mesothelioma is a noncancerous tumor has not spread to other body organs. If the tumor is large, could pressure the lung and cause breathing problems and pain.

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is cancerous and can spread to other body parts. This rare form of cancer found in the pleura of the lung tissue. Exposure to asbestos is considered the primary cause of malignant pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma, also known as cancer of the peritoneum, is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal tissue. Symptoms may include: stomach pain, weight loss, nausea, vomiting, hernia, fluid in the abdominal cavity or a mass in the abdomen.

One of the ways doctors diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma is by looking inside the abdominal cavity with an instrument called peritoneoscope. In this procedure, a cut is made through the abdominal wall and the device is inserted into the abdomen. This test, called peritoneoscopy, takes place usually in the hospital.

Some patients develop excessive fluid in the abdomen. This is called an effusion. The doctor could take a sample of fluid to diagnose if there is peritoneal mesothelioma. The fluid in the abdomen also may be drained to relieve symptoms of mesothelioma of the peritoneum. This fluid drainage procedure known as paracentesis.

Types of mesothelioma cells
Your doctor or medical history may refer to “cell types” of mesothelioma. This refers to the types of tissue where the cancer first developed. For example, mesothelioma “epithelial” refers to cancer cells that develop in the epithelium, which is the membrane lining the lungs, heart and abdomen. However, mesothelioma “sarcomatous” occurs in connective tissues. The term “biphasic” refers to mesothelioma develops in two distinct types of cells. Other types of cells are linfohistiocitoide and desmoplastic mesothelioma.