- 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
Mesothelioma Types
When making a mesothelioma diagnosis, a doctor will consider the location where the cancer originated and assign one of four diagnostic terms. All caused by exposure to asbestos, pleural, peritoneal, pericardial and testicular mesotheliomas are developed when asbestos fibers become trapped in the body.
Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed type of mesothelioma, accounting for approximately 75 percent of total cases. Pleural mesothelioma is found in the pleura, or the mesothelial lining of the lungs, where the cancer causes fluid accumulation and a thickening of the pleural membrane.
Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include chronic chest pain, a persistent cough, shortness of breath (even when at rest) and difficulty swallowing. In late stages of the cancer, lumps may form in the skin around the chest.
As the most prevalent form, the largest body of mesothelioma research centers on the pleural variety, helping to offer the widest range of treatment options for pleural mesothelioma patients. Additionally, pleural mesothelioma tends to respond most positively to treatment. If diagnosed in Stage 1 or 2, pleural mesothelioma may be operable, although later stages of the cancer may only be affected by palliative therapies.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Found in the peritoneal lining of the abdominal cavity, peritoneal mesothelioma makes up 10 to 20 percent of mesothelioma diagnoses. It is thought to metastasize more quickly than other forms, which can complicate the treatment process.
As fluid builds up in peritoneal membranes, patients experience symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, marked changes in bowel movements, swelling or lumps in the abdomen and weight loss.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma, found in the heart's mesothelial lining, is only diagnosed in 1 to 5 percent of all mesothelioma patients. Pericardial mesothelioma typically carries the poorest prognosis because it is more resistant to treatment and is also rarely diagnosed early enough for curative methods to have a strong impact.
Patients with pericardial mesothelioma often note heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat, difficulty breathing and chest pain. These pericardial mesothelioma symptoms are the result of pressure placed on the heart as a result of accumulated fluid trapped between the parietal and visceral layers of the chest cavity.
Testicular Mesothelioma
Less than 100 testicular mesothelioma cases have been reported, making it the rarest form of the cancer. Originating in the tunica vaginalis, or the lining around the testicles, little is known about testicular mesothelioma's symptoms or treatment.
Often, the testicular mesothelioma is a secondary tumor that has spread from mesothelioma in one of the other three primary locations. It is often not noticed until the patient develops testicular lumps, at which point treatment typically entails removal of part or all of the cancerous tumor(s).