Types of malignant mesothelioma
A. Pleural malignant mesothelioma
Pleural malignant mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the pleura-a membrane that is attached to the lungs. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of pleural malignant mesothelioma. It takes many years for the asbestos to “incubate” in the body and manifest itself as mesothelioma. You could have been exposed to asbestos many years ago... yet the damage may only be showing up now . . . or in the future.
Pleural malignant mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for about 75% of all cases.
Pleural mesothelioma is sometimes diagnosed by a routine chest x-ray, before there are any symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, pain in the chest and/or lower back, persistent coughing, and difficulty in swallowing, alone or in combination.
Where such symptoms are present, x-rays or CT scans typically disclose the presence of pleural effusion-that is, accumulation of fluid in the area between the lungs and the chest wall. Additional testing in the form of a bronchoscopy-viewing the lungs through a special scope-is generally performed as well.
In addition, tissue is typically obtained for purposes of a biopsy. Biopsy is regarded as the most precise method of diagnosing the disease.
Different methods of biopsy are available-needle biopsy, open biopsy, or thoracoscopy (biopsy taken via a tube and camera). With thoracoscopy, if the camera image shows an abnormality, a tissue sample can be taken at the same time, using the same tube.
As the disease progresses, the mesothelial tumor spreads over the pleura, causing it to thicken. When the pleura thickens, it becomes less flexible. The pleura’s loss of flexibility restricts the lungs’ ability to expand and contract. The lungs shrink and become less functional because of this restriction-and so, breathing becomes more difficult.
As a result of this process, the mesothelioma victim may experience shortness of breath. At first, shortness of breath may occur only upon exertion. In later stages of the disease process, however, shortness of breath may be present even while the victim is resting.
The mesothelial tumor invades surrounding tissue as it spreads. The invasive nature of mesothelioma means that the tumor will compress the lungs, the chest wall and the ribs. This invasive process can be extremely painful for the victim.
B. Peritoneal mesothelioma
A thin membrane of mesothelial cells, known as the peritoneum, envelops the organs in the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor of this membrane. Like malignant pleural mesothelioma, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is caused only by exposure to asbestos. Peritoneal mesotheliomas account for about one-fifth of all mesotheliomas.
When symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include abdominal pain, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal swelling, sexual dysfunction and ascites (buildup of fluid in the peritoneal space). As the disease progresses, victims often experience marked weight loss and pronounced wasting of the extremities. www.mesothelioma-law-firm.com
The growing tumor may exert increasing pressure on the abdominal organs, resulting in bowel obstruction and distention and impaired breathing.
As with pleural mesothelioma, x-rays and CT scans are typically the first step towards detecting peritoneal mesothelioma, followed by viewing the peritoneum via scope (peritoneoscopy), followed by a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
The prognosis for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma is generally better than for those with pleural mesothelioma, possibly because it is easier to deliver chemotherapy directly to the peritoneal area and because the peritoneal area is more receptive to multiple procedures to debulk and resect masses. In one study, 1/3 of 25 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma remained disease-free two to three years after treatment.
In rare instances, mesothelioma can occur in the pericardium (the membrane that envelops the heart) or in the testicles. When mesothelioma occurs in either of these areas, treatment options are limited and the prognosis for survival is similar to that for patients with pleural mesothelioma.
Pleural malignant mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the pleura-a membrane that is attached to the lungs. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of pleural malignant mesothelioma. It takes many years for the asbestos to “incubate” in the body and manifest itself as mesothelioma. You could have been exposed to asbestos many years ago... yet the damage may only be showing up now . . . or in the future.
Pleural malignant mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for about 75% of all cases.
Pleural mesothelioma is sometimes diagnosed by a routine chest x-ray, before there are any symptoms. When symptoms occur, they may include shortness of breath, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, pain in the chest and/or lower back, persistent coughing, and difficulty in swallowing, alone or in combination.
Where such symptoms are present, x-rays or CT scans typically disclose the presence of pleural effusion-that is, accumulation of fluid in the area between the lungs and the chest wall. Additional testing in the form of a bronchoscopy-viewing the lungs through a special scope-is generally performed as well.
In addition, tissue is typically obtained for purposes of a biopsy. Biopsy is regarded as the most precise method of diagnosing the disease.
Different methods of biopsy are available-needle biopsy, open biopsy, or thoracoscopy (biopsy taken via a tube and camera). With thoracoscopy, if the camera image shows an abnormality, a tissue sample can be taken at the same time, using the same tube.
As the disease progresses, the mesothelial tumor spreads over the pleura, causing it to thicken. When the pleura thickens, it becomes less flexible. The pleura’s loss of flexibility restricts the lungs’ ability to expand and contract. The lungs shrink and become less functional because of this restriction-and so, breathing becomes more difficult.
As a result of this process, the mesothelioma victim may experience shortness of breath. At first, shortness of breath may occur only upon exertion. In later stages of the disease process, however, shortness of breath may be present even while the victim is resting.
The mesothelial tumor invades surrounding tissue as it spreads. The invasive nature of mesothelioma means that the tumor will compress the lungs, the chest wall and the ribs. This invasive process can be extremely painful for the victim.
B. Peritoneal mesothelioma
A thin membrane of mesothelial cells, known as the peritoneum, envelops the organs in the abdomen. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor of this membrane. Like malignant pleural mesothelioma, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is caused only by exposure to asbestos. Peritoneal mesotheliomas account for about one-fifth of all mesotheliomas.
When symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include abdominal pain, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, abdominal swelling, sexual dysfunction and ascites (buildup of fluid in the peritoneal space). As the disease progresses, victims often experience marked weight loss and pronounced wasting of the extremities. www.mesothelioma-law-firm.com
The growing tumor may exert increasing pressure on the abdominal organs, resulting in bowel obstruction and distention and impaired breathing.
As with pleural mesothelioma, x-rays and CT scans are typically the first step towards detecting peritoneal mesothelioma, followed by viewing the peritoneum via scope (peritoneoscopy), followed by a biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.
The prognosis for patients with peritoneal mesothelioma is generally better than for those with pleural mesothelioma, possibly because it is easier to deliver chemotherapy directly to the peritoneal area and because the peritoneal area is more receptive to multiple procedures to debulk and resect masses. In one study, 1/3 of 25 patients with peritoneal mesothelioma remained disease-free two to three years after treatment.
In rare instances, mesothelioma can occur in the pericardium (the membrane that envelops the heart) or in the testicles. When mesothelioma occurs in either of these areas, treatment options are limited and the prognosis for survival is similar to that for patients with pleural mesothelioma.
