Mesothelioma :What Is Mesothelioma

More Of Benign Cystic Mesothelioma

2008-09-08T15:03:00.000-07:00

Cystic mesothelioma (CM) of the peritoneum is a rare and benign neoplasm that develops predominantly in women of reproductive age and tends to persist locally. This kind of mesothelioma produces cysts within the abdominal cavity. Surgical removal of the mesothelioma cysts is pretty effective in treating the symptoms; however, the recurring of cysts development is very high.

Due to that fact in some isolated cases hormonal therapy is used in an attempt to relieve local symptoms and control the cyst size. Although cystic mesothelioma is benign (not cancerous) it requires a long term treatment and monitoring, that may include extensive lab analysis and complicated immunohistochemical studies, that include estrogen receptor (ER) and porgesteron receptor (PR) status of benign cystic mesothelioma.

Benign cystic mesothelioma is not directly life threatening since its tissue is non-cancerous; however it can still pose a threat to health if left untreated. Benign cystic mesothelioma does reveal significant asbestos exposure. To discover if a patient has any other asbestos-related conditions doctors often use the appearance of benign cystic mesothelioma as the initiation point for an investigation. Other serious asbestos conditions, such as asbestosis or benign pleural diseases, still pose serious threats to health and well being.

Benign Cystic Peritoneal Mesothelioma: What Is It?

2008-09-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

The well defined but rare entity of benign cystic mesothelioma is reported. The aetiology of this neoplasm remains obscure. The presenting features make a precise preoperative diagnosis difficult; information provided by computed tomography and cytology may help. A firm diagnosis can only come from electron microscopic or immunohistochemical examination of the tumour. Diagnostic accuracy and diligent follow up are essential because, although the tumour is considered benign, it does tend towards local recurrence.

Benign cystic mesothelioma (BCM) is an uncommon lesion of the peritoneum occurring predominantly in women of reproductive age. Although most patients are managed by surgical resection, a reported high incidence of cyst recurrence has led to the use of hormonal therapy in isolated cases in an attempt to control cyst size and relieve local symptoms. To date, the estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) status of BCM has not been evaluated.

Benign cystic mesothelioma is a neoplasm composed of mutiple small flluid-filled cysts. In terms of malignant potential it lies between two other neoplasms of mesthelial origin: adenomatoid tumour and malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. The most common peritoneal adenomatoid tumour is usually an incidental finding at laparotomy and rarely causes symtoms. In contrast, the malignant mesothelioma, which is known to develop after exposure to asbestos, frequently metastasises and is fatal.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: The Treatment Method

2008-08-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

There are a number of methods for medically treating pericardial mesothelioma. Some even resemble treatments for other ailments of the body. Radiation and chemotherapy are the most widely used and effective forms of treatment for this type of mesothelioma.

Radiation is the number one used method for this type of rare cancer because it has proved to be most effective in many patients. Both treatments, however, run the risk of damaging healthy cells as well as cancerous cells, so it is best to monitor both of these procedures. Some doctors choose to use surgery in order to remove the cancerous cells in order to create more comfort for the patient. This is not a "cure" or 100% removal of cancerous cells and there could still be contaminated areas left untreated. The retained fluid in the pericardial cavity can cause inflammation to the tissue around the heart and great discomfort to the patient.

Unfortunately for most people who are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, by the time symptoms of the disease appear, the cancer has progressed to a stage where conventional treatments are largely ineffective for anything other than providing temporary relief of symptoms. The difficulty of diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma at an early stage means that the long-term prognosis for most people with the disease is very poor. The average patient survives just six months post-diagnosis.

Most people diagnosed with this form of mesothelioma are not good candidates for cancer surgery. However, there are rare cases where the cancer is diagnosed early, and surgery can be carried out to remove small, localized pericardial tumors. This type of surgery carries great risk, simply due to the proximity of the heart.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: The Symptoms

2008-08-20T15:30:00.000-07:00

Pericardial mesothelioma is a relatively rare form of cancer. For this reason, it has been difficult for mesothelioma specialists to develop a set of recognizable symptoms that can be used to help diagnose the disease. An additional problem is that the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma resemble symptoms of other heart conditions, and this makes the cancer relatively difficult to diagnose quickly. A pericardial mesothelioma diagnosis may require a variety of tests to confirm the presence of cancer.

The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma, as with other types of mesothelioma, can take decades to manifest. If a person worked with asbestos twenty or thirty years ago and shows no symptoms, that does not mean that they have the all clear. The symptoms typically take around twenty or thirty years to manifest anyway, sometimes even longer.

There are several main symptoms to look out for with pericardial mesothelioma. These include:

1) persistent coughing
2) shortness of breath
3) chest pain
4) palpitations

Anyone that has worked with asbestos and experiences any or all of these symptoms should seek medical advice immediately.

Pericardial Mesothelioma: An Overview

2008-08-14T04:04:00.000-07:00

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of this asbestos-related cancer. This form of cancer affects the lining that surrounds the heart, and is associated with long term exposure to asbestos fibres.

Pericardial mesothelioma is also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium or cancer of the sac that holds the heart. Patients who develop excessive fluid around the heart, called an effusion, may have a sample of the fluid taken to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma. Fluid might also be drained to relieve symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. The procedure for drawing out this fluid is called “pericardiocentesis.”

Pericardial mesothelioma can take several decades to develop from the time of exposure, with the average latency period being between twenty and forty years. This means that those people who may have contracted this form of cancer while working with asbestos in the 1970s, may not even be aware that they have the cancer, as symptoms may not yet have developed.

Pericardial mesothelioma is where the lining that surrounds the heart and provides protection and lubrication is attacked by cancer cells. There are a number of symptoms associated with pericardial mesothelioma, including persistent coughing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and palpitations. These are symptoms that you should look out for if you have worked with asbestos in the past, and should you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical assistance as early as possible.

Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the pericardium, a membrane made up of mesothelial cells that surrounds the heart and provides protection and support to this organ. The membrane is composed of two different layers - an outer layer called the parietal layer (called the heart sac or theca cordis), and an inner layer known as the visceral layer (called the epicardium). The parietal layer is part of a larger membrane that lines the entire chest cavity, while the visceral layer is the pericardial membrane that lines the heart.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatments

2008-08-11T00:50:00.000-07:00

In recent years, multimodality treatment of peritoneal mesothelioma has become more common for a select patient population, since surgery alone and/or intraperitoneal chemotherapy alone have proven to be similarly ineffective. Cytoreductive (debulking) surgery involves the removal of all or nearly all visible tumor, and, depending on the physician’s choice, may be combined with Intra-Peritoneal Hyperthermic Chemotherapy (IPHC), intraperitoneal chemotherapy and/or radiation. Since it is not always possible to remove all tumors, the prognosis for long-term survival may be based on the completeness of cytoreduction as established by the following criteria: (1) Complete Cytoreduction; and (2) Imcomplete cytoreduction.

Due to a lack of symptoms early in the natural history of peritoneal mesothelioma, a large majority of patients are first diagnosed with a large volume of disease diffusely spread throughout the abdomen and pelvis. The disease accumulates in largest volume at sites of peritoneal fluid reabsorption and at dependent sites by gravity. The small bowel surfaces and mesenteries are not spared of mesothelioma implants as in the mucinous appendiceal neoplasms.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Causes And Sypmtoms

2008-08-08T01:23:00.000-07:00

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare disease. Because of the frequent dissemination of pleural mesothelioma to the peritoneal cavity, one must rule out spread from a primary pleural malignancy as the cause of peritoneal disease.

The widespread progression of malignant cells on peritoneal surfaces results in copious fluid production. The fluid production can be attributed to the retention of a functional property of normal mesothelial cells. In these patients the peritoneal space becomes a free conduit for mesothelioma cells to migrate from place to place. In the production of ascites fluid, the cancer cells provide themselves with a carrier solution to disseminate throughout the abdominal and pelvic spaces.

Clinical symptoms at the time of presentation may include abdominal pain, abdominal mass, increased abdominal girth, distention of the abdomen, ascites (fluid in the abdomen), fever, weight loss, fatigue, anemia and digestive disturbances. Some patients complain of more non-specific symptoms for a number of months prior to a confirmed diagnosis. In a percentage of cases, peritoneal mesothelioma is found incidentally when the patient has sought help for another health problem such as gallbladder, hernia or pelvic mass.

Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the lining of the lung, known as the pleura) may include, but are not limited to, the following:

1) shortness of breath (dyspnea) - hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and/or coughing up of blood.

2) pleural effusion - a build up of too much fluid between the pleura (linings of the lungs and chest); a pleural effusion may cause chest pain and difficulty breathing (dyspnea), however, many cause no symptoms and are first discovered during the physical examination or seen on a chest x-ray.

3) pain in the chest - may sometimes be felt in upper abdomen, shoulder, or arm.

Introduction to Peritoneal Mesothelioma (Abdominal Mesothelioma)

2008-08-06T01:45:00.000-07:00

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is a rare aggressive tumor of the peritoneum, regarded as a universally fatal disease. It is poorly described and the knowledge of its natural history is very limited. Occupational and environmental asbestos exposure still remains a public health problem around the world. The incidence has increased in the past 2 decades. Only 20% to 33% of all mesotheliomas arise from the peritoneum itself; the pleura is the most common site of origin.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer affecting the abdominal lining, or peritoneum (paira-tin-e-um), which is why is is sometimes referred to as abdominal mesothelioma. This membrane supports and covers the organs of the abdomen.

The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum.

Cells in these linings secrete a fluid which allows organs to move against one another. For instance, as the intestines move food through the body. The cells of the mesothelium are designed to create fluid, but the cancer causes them to overproduce, creating a build up of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity.

Pleural Mesothelioma - Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatments

2008-08-04T00:30:00.000-07:00

Thickening of pleural membrane layers and the resulting build-up of fluid (called pleural effusion) begins to put pressure on the lungs and the respiratory system in general, preventing normal breathing. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are largely caused by these developments, and may include the following:

* Persistent dry or raspy cough
* Coughing up blood
* Difficulty in swallowing
* Shortness of breath that occurs even when at rest
* Persistent pain in the chest or rib area, or painful breathing
* Development of lumps under the skin on the chest
* Night sweats or fever
* Unexplained weight loss
* Fatigue

As with other types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose. There are two reasons for this. First, the long latency period of the disease means that cancer develops long before the first symptoms are noted. Second, the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are very non-specific. In the early stages, pleural mesothelioma symptoms are often mistaken for those of less threatening diseases such as influenza and pneumonia.

Pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is made partly on the basis of symptoms, but because symptoms are non-specific, additional diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the presence of cancer. Following a medical history review and physical examination, patients must typically undergo imaging tests to confirm the location of cancer, and fluid and tissue tests to confirm the type of cancer involved.

In general, pleural mesothelioma patients have three options: surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Typically, patients will receive a combination of two or more of these types of treatment.

Early pleural mesothelioma diagnosis can improve a patient's prognosis considerably, and such patients have more extensive treatment options. If the disease is diagnosed early enough, surgery to remove localized tumors, followed by chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells can be an effective treatment. Curative surgery candidates must be in a good general state of health, and their cancer must not have spread beyond localized sections of the lungs.

Deep Discussions About Pleural Mesothelioma

2008-07-30T02:00:00.000-07:00

Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs. This lining is called the pleura, or pleural membrane, and it is made up of mesothelial cells. This pleural membrane consists of two layers - the parietal layer, and the visceral layer. The parietal layer is an outer layer that lines the entire chest cavity and diaphragm, while the visceral layer is an inner layer that covers the lungs. Together, these two layers provide support and protection for the lungs and the chest cavity.

In cases of pleural mesothelioma, asbestos exposure occurs via inhalation of asbestos fibers. Once these fibers have entered the lungs, they work their way to the pleural membrane, and the body experiences great difficulty in expelling these fibers. Over a long period of time - typically two decades or more - asbestos fibers cause changes in these pleural cells, which may cause scarring of the lungs and, eventually, the formation of tumors.

When pleural cells become cancerous, they are no longer regulated by the mechanisms that control division of normal healthy cells. They begin to divide continuously, and this causes thickening of pleural membranes. As a result, lung capacity is reduced, and fluid begins to build up between pleural layers.

Medical experts have been unable to definitively assess the prognosis of pleural mesothelioma partly because there are relatively few cases and it is so difficult to diagnose that patients don't get treatment for a long time after the disease strikes. Studies of pleural mesothelioma patients show that important prognostic factors include stage of cancer, age, and histology. Surgery improves the lifespan of the patient, even though it does not cure the disease. For patients treated with surgery, factors associated with improved long-term survival include epithelial histology, negative lymph nodes, and negative surgical margins. Nodal status is an important prognostic factor. Studies have shown the median survival of patients with malignant pleural disease is 16 months.

Pleural effusions and peritoneal effusions are experienced by two-thirds of patients. Hemothorax - the collection of blood in the pleural cavity - also is a symptom. A pleural smear examines a sample of pleural fluid under the microscope to detect for abnormal organisms. The test is performed when infection of the pleural space is suspected or when an abnormal collection of pleural fluid is noticed by chest X-ray. Sometimes the tumor grows through the diaphragm, making the site of origin difficult to assess.

Mesothelioma Prevention: Fighting Mesothelioma

2008-07-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

Prevention of mesothelioma or mesothelioma settlements can be best done by avoiding contact with asbestos which is proven to be its main causing professional. Asbestos is observed almost everywhere can it be at home, at work or in any public buildings. Workers included with it must take extra care and precautions to avoid contact through inhalation or drinking. Low rates of mesothelioma diagnosis are discovered for the past 20 years however nowadays, the number of affected individuals has been growing to a large degree. In United States almost 2,000 new cases are observed each year.

Reducing your exposure to asbestos may reduce your risk of mesothelioma. Most people with mesothelioma were exposed to the asbestos fibers at work. Workers who may encounter asbestos fibers include:

* Miners
* Factory workers
* Insulation manufacturers
* Railroad workers
* Ship builders
* Gas mask manufacturers
* Construction workers

Follow all safety precautions in your workplace, such as wearing protective equipment. You may also be required to shower and change out of your work clothes before taking a lunch break or going home. Talk to your doctor about other precautions you can take to protect yourself from asbestos exposure.

Older homes and buildings may contain asbestos. In many cases, it's more dangerous to remove the asbestos than it is to leave it intact. Breaking up asbestos may cause fibers to become airborne, where they can be taken into your body as you breathe. Consult experts trained to detect asbestos in your home. These experts may test the air in your home to determine whether the asbestos is a risk to your health. Don't attempt to remove asbestos from your home — hire a qualified expert.

Different Mesothelioma Treatments

2008-07-17T14:00:00.000-07:00

Mesothelioma treatments depends on your health and certain aspects of your cancer, such as its stage and location. Unfortunately, mesothelioma often is an aggressive disease and for many people a cure won't be possible. Mesothelioma diagnosis usually appears at its advanced stage when it isn't possible to remove the cancer through surgery.

Mesothelioma treatments options may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trials.

1) Surgery - Surgery work to remove mesothelioma from your body. Sometimes it isn't possible to remove all of the cancer. In those cases, surgery may help to reduce the mesothelioma symptoms and signs spreading in your body.

2) Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy drugs travel throughout your body and kill rapidly growing cells. This works against cancer cells, but also affects other rapidly growing cells in your body, such as those in your hair follicles and those in your gastrointestinal system. Chemotherapy may slow the growth of pleural mesothelioma.

3) Radiation Therapy - Radiation therapy focuses high-energy radiation to a specific spot or spots on your body. Radiation may reduce signs and symptoms in people with pleural mesothelioma. Doctors aim radiation at the entire chest to obtain the best result. However, many sensitive organs reside in the chest, such as the heart, lungs and spinal cord, so doctors must use low doses of radiation to spare these organs.

4) Combination Therapy - Here, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be combined. This aggressive therapy can be grueling and may not be appropriate for everyone. Younger, healthier people and those with earlier stage mesothelioma may be more able to endure this treatment. Combination therapy has shown the most promise in mesothelioma treatments. However, most people will eventually experience a recurrence of this cancer despite this aggressive treatment.

5) Clinical Trials - Clinical trials are studies of new mesothelioma treatment methods. People with mesothelioma may opt for a clinical trial for a chance to try new types of treatment. However, a cure isn't guaranteed. Carefully consider your treatment options and talk to your doctor about what clinical trials are open to you.

Signs And Symptoms of Different Types of Mesothelioma

2008-07-15T10:00:00.000-07:00

Signs and symptoms depends on the types of a mesothelioma. Here are the list of different signs and symptoms of different types of a mesothelioma:

For malignant mesothelioma - malignant mesothelioma spreads rapidly and can affect other organs; the following signs and symptoms must be observed.
* chest pains
* cough
* shortness of breath
* severe weight loss

For pleural mesothelioma - initial symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are often vague; in many cases, however, individuals with pleural mesothelioma never experience early symptoms at all.
* shortness of breath
* chest pains
* Painful breathing
* Chest pain under the rib cage
* Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on your chest
* Unexplained weight loss
* Dry (nonproductive) cough

For peritoneal mesothelioma - after initial asbestos exposure has occurred, it is common for two or three decades to elapse before symptoms begin to appear.
* Weight loss
* Fever or night sweats
* Obstruction of the small or large intestine
* Anemia
* Abdominal pains
* Abdominal weakness
* Loss of appetite
* Nausea
* Abdominal swelling

For pericardial mesothelioma - the following symptoms often indicate a cardiac condition, but further tests are required to confirm a diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma.
* Chest pain
* Irregular heartbeat
* Heart palpitations
* Shortness of breath

Signs and symptoms of mesothelioma that has spread to other parts of the body include:
* Pain in the area where cancer has spread
* Difficulty swallowing
* Swelling in the neck and face

Causes of Mesothelioma

2008-07-10T06:00:00.000-07:00

In general, cancer begins with a genetic mutation that turns normal, healthy cells into abnormal cells. Healthy cells grow and multiply at a set rate, eventually dying at a set time. Abnormal cells grow and multiply out of control, and they don't die. The accumulating abnormal cells form a mass (tumor). Cancer cells invade nearby tissues and can break off from an initial tumor to spread elsewhere in the body (metastasize).

It isn't clear what is the initial genetic mutation that leads to mesothelioma or causes of mesothelioma, though researchers have identified factors that may increase the causes of mesothelioma. It's likely that mesothelioma lung cancer form because of an interaction between many factors, such as inherited conditions, your environment, your health conditions and your lifestyle choices.

Asbestos is the most common causes of mesothelioma. Up to nine out of ten cases of mesothelioma are caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral, mined from rock found in many countries. It is made up of tiny fibres that are as strong as steel but can be woven like cotton and are highly resistant to heat and chemicals. When asbestos is disturbed or damaged, it releases tiny fibres that can be breathed into the lungs. Asbestos fibres are very fine and, when breathed in, they can make their way into the smallest airways of the lung, so they cannot be breathed or coughed out. Once the fibres are in the lungs, the body's defence mechanism tries to break them down and remove them, which leads to inflammation in the lung tissue.

Mesothelioma does not usually develop until many years after exposure to asbestos. It can take any time from 10 to 60 years, although the average is about 30 to 40 years after exposure to asbestos. Occasionally, mesothelioma develops in people who have never been exposed to asbestos. The other causes of mesothelioma are not fully understood, but in rare cases the development of mesothelioma has been linked to exposure to radiation.

Mesothelioma research has not found any evidence that smoking increases a person's risk of developing mesothelioma. It is also thought that exposure to other building materials such as fibreglass does not increase the risk. Mesothelioma is not contagious and cannot be passed on to other people. It is not caused by inherited faulty genes and so family members do not have an increased risk of developing it, unless they have been in contact with asbestos.

Mesothelioma Research About The Types Of Mesothelioma

2008-07-08T06:00:00.000-07:00

Asides from malignant mesothelioma (which i have discussed on my previous post), there are other type of mesothelioma. This are the the other types of mesothelioma:

1) Pleural Mesothelioma - Pleural mesothelioma that affects the chest and lungs is often originates within the chest cavity and can, at times, involve the lung. This particular form of mesothelioma can metastasize to numerous organs in the body – even the brain - and tends to do so more frequently than not. Pleural mesothelioma is not always easily detectable. Frequently, in the early stages of the disease, symptoms may be mild. Patients usually report pain in one area of the chest that never seems to go away, weight loss and fever. Occasionally, other symptoms are more severe and include problems with breathing due to fluid build up in the chest.

2) Peritoneal Mesothelioma - Peritoneal mesothelioma that affects the abdomen frequently spread to other organs in area including the liver, spleen or bowel. Severe abdominal pain is the most common complaint that patients present to their doctor. There may also be a discomfort level with fluid build up in the abdomen as well. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include difficult bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, fever and swollen feet.

3) Pericardial Mesothelioma - Pericardial mesothelioma which affects the heart is the least common form of mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma, as the name suggests, involves the heart. This rare type of mesothelioma invades the pericardium, the sac that surrounds the heart. As the cancer progresses, the heart is not able to deliver oxygen as efficiently to the body causing further decline in health at an increasingly rapid rate. The symptoms most commonly associated with pericardial mesothelioma mimic those of a heart attack: nausea, pain in the chest and shortness of breath.

4) Benign or Cystic Mesothelioma - Benign or cystic mesothelioma that affects the peritoneum primarily affects women of younger age and affects the peritoneum. This type of mesothelioma is not frequently diagnosed and is also not a malignant mesothelioma. It is, however, extremely difficult to identify and requires specialized microscopes and immunologic techniques to aid in diagnosis.

Treatment for all of these rare forms of mesothelioma will vary depending on what stage a patient has progressed to but in most all cases the projected outcome is not favorable.

Mesothelioma Info: Know More About Malignant Mesothelioma

2008-07-03T07:30:00.000-07:00

Malignant mesothelioma (or simply, mesothelioma ) is a rare cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium). Doctors divide mesothelioma into different categories based on what part of the mesothelium is affected by cancer. Mesothelioma that occurs in the tissue that surrounds the lung (pleura) is called pleural mesothelioma and is the most common form. Mesothelioma that occurs in the tissue in your abdomen (peritoneum) is called peritoneal mesothelioma and accounts for 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma. In rare cases, pericardial mesothelioma; the rarest form of mesothelioma; is a mesothelioma that occur in the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium); and the other one is in the lining around the testicles (tunica vaginalis).

Although reported incidence rates have increased in the past 20 years, mesothelioma is still a relatively rare cancer. About 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma diagnosis in the United States each year. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than are women; and risk increases with age, but this disease can appear in either men or women at any age - mesothelioma diagnosis can be find at no particular gender or age.

Malignant mesothelioma is closely linked to exposure to asbestos — a natural fiber that was once used in manufacturing a wide variety of industrial and household products. It's an unfortunate truth that millions of Americans and people all over the world have been poisoned by toxic levels of asbestos, putting them at risk for mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and other deadly diseases that are directly caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Malignant mesothelioma rates have increased during the past 20 years in response to the widespread use of asbestos in the past. Many industrialized countries now limit asbestos use and enforce laws to protect workers who may be exposed. Mesothelioma research predicts that these efforts will lead to fewer cases of mesothelioma in the future.

Mesothelioma: Know What Is Mesothelioma and Causes of Mesothelioma

2008-07-01T00:12:00.000-07:00

What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma (mesothelioma lung cancer) is a disease in which cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Mesothelioma lung cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma lung cancer begin in the pleura or peritoneum.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos. In this mesothelioma lung cancer, malignant cells develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's internal organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart).

Causes of mesothelioma are inhaling asbestos particles, or being exposed to asbestos dust and fibre in other ways, such as by washing the clothes of a family member who worked with asbestos. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma and smoking. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath due to pleural effusion (fluid between the lung and the chest wall) or chest wall pain, and general symptoms such as weight loss. The mesothelioma diagnosis can be made with chest X-rays and a CT scan, and confirmed with a biopsy (tissue sample) and microscopic examination. A thoracoscopy (inserting a tube with a camera into the chest) can be used to take biopsies. It allows the introduction of substances such as talc to obliterate the pleural space (called pleurodesis), which prevents more fluid from accumulating and pressing on the lung. Despite mesothelioma treatments with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the mesothelioma carries a poor prognosis. Mesothelioma research about screening tests for the early detection of mesothelioma symptoms is ongoing.