Mesothelioma, more precisely
malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the
protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the
mesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.
Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal
chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the
abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart)
or tunica vaginalis.
Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled
asbestos particles, or they have been exposed to asbestos dust and fiber in
other ways. It has also been suggested that washing the clothes of a family
member who worked with asbestos can put a person at risk for developing
mesothelioma. Unlike lung cancer, there is no association between mesothelioma
and smoking, but smoking greatly increases the risk of other asbestos-induced
cancers. Compensation via asbestos funds or lawsuits is an important issue in
mesothelioma (see asbestos and the law).
The symptoms of mesothelioma
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 diagnosis may be suspected with
chest X-ray and CT scan, and is 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 treatment with
chemotherapy, radiation therapy or sometimes surgery, the disease
carries a poor prognosis. Research about screening tests for the
early detection of mesothelioma is ongoing.
We suggest the
following additional reading material.
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