- Mesothelioma
- Mesothelioma Facts
- Mesothelioma Symptoms
- Mesothelioma Awareness
- Mesothelioma Lung Cancer
- Mesothelioma Causes
- Mesothelioma Risk Factors
- Mesothelioma Incidence
- Mesothelioma Diagnosis
- Mesothelioma Tests
- Mesothelioma Biopsy
- Mesothelioma Blood Test
- Mesothelioma Pathology
- Mesothelioma Prognosis
- Mesothelioma Life Expectancy
- Mesothelioma Life Span
- Mesothelioma Survival Rate
- Mesothelioma Survivors
- Mesothelioma Death Rate
- Mesothelioma Types
- Pleural Mesothelioma
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Pericardial Mesothelioma
- Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma
- Malignant Mesothelioma
- Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
- Biphasic Mesothelioma
- Epithelial Mesothelioma
- Mesothelioma Staging
- Mesothelioma Metastasis
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Medical professionals have identified three different types of mesothelioma after a histological examination of the cells that form the tumors. Mesothelial growths may be made up of sarcomatoid, epithelial or biphasic cells. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, the least common of the three forms, makes up about 7 to 20 percent of total mesothelioma cases.
Identifying Malignant Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Desmoplastic mesothelioma is considered to be a subset of sarcomatoid mesothelioma. This cancer is very hard to diagnose because the cells look very similar to benign fibrous tissue. Malignant sarcomatoid cells appear as elongated and spindle-shaped cells with irregular borders and a tendency to overlap one another. Additionally, sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells look very similar to cells from another form of cancer, pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma.
Diagnosing Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Because of the complications in identifying this form of mesothelioma, patients generally undergo a detailed medical evaluation to obtain a conclusive diagnosis. Biopsies are often conducted to analyze samples of cells that are suspected to be cancerous. After removing cells from various spots across the tumor, a visual observation and laboratory testing will determine their classification. Immunohistochemistry can also be used to diagnose sarcomatoid mesothelioma. By marking specific proteins and antigens in tissues, this process can chemically analyze tumors for further classification.
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Prognosis
As with other forms of the cancer, the prognosis for sarcomatoid mesothelioma patients is typically less than a year after diagnosis. Sarcomatoid cancers are often more aggressive and treatment-resistant than other types of mesothelioma. However, the stage of the cancer, the patient’s age and general health and the location of the tumor are generally more indicative of life expectancy than the type of mesothelioma.
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Treatment
Other factors are typically more influential than mesothelioma cell type in determining a patient’s course of treatment. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are all forms of treatment commonly used in treating all subtypes of malignant mesothelioma, including the sarcomatoid variation. In some cases, a combination of these treatments may be used to improve results.