Showing posts with label Types. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Types. Show all posts

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

How Many Types Of Mesothelioma


Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is associated with the exposure to asbestos. It is known as the most aggressive and the most difficult to treat type of cancer. The reason is this that it is diagnosed very late and sometimes the patient does not have an idea of the period in which he was exposed to asbestos and this disease started to grow in his body. It usually starts in the mesothelium cells that are the protective coverings of different parts of the body (especially the parts of abdomen).

Some forms of mesothelioma are malignant and some are non-malignant. In medical terminology, only the malignant mesothelioma is considered as mesothelioma. We will here discuss the main types of mesothelioma cells as they look under the microscope. There are four main types of the cancerous cells.


Epothelioid:it is the most common kind of mesothelioma. 50 to 70 % cases belong to this kind of cancerous cells. In this kind of cancer, the chance of being cured is comparatively high.
Sarcomatoid (fibrous): this is the rare kind of mesothelioma that occurs in 7 to 20% patients and it affects the secondary tissues of the body of the patients. The survival rate is low in this category.
Mixed (biphasic): in this kind of mesothelioma, both above mentioned kinds of mesothelioma occur simultaneously. It covers 20 to 35% of mesothelioma patients.
Desmoplastic:this is the rarest kind of mesothelioma cells and the survival rate in it is low.

As this type of cancer grows in different parts of the body, so they have different names. Some important types of mesothelioma are as following:


Pleura mesothelioma: almost 75% of mesothelioma patients have this type of cancer. It affects pleura of the body. As the asbestos fibers inhaled by the air are stored in pleura and cause scarring and inflammation, cancer develops. The latency period is quite long as it covers 30 to 50 years.
Peritoneum mesothelioma: this is the second most common type of mesothelioma. 10 to 20 % of mesothelioma patients belong to this type. It develops in peritoneum. Its latency period is shorter than the latency period in pleura mesothelioma. Even then it takes 20 to 30 years to be developed
Pericardium mesothelioma: this type of cancer occurs in the lining of heart. Only 10 % of this type of cases is found in all over the world. It is also associated with the exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis: it is the rarest type of cancer that grows in the lining of the tunica vaginal testis. The total number of such patients is less than hundred but it is said that the main cause of mesothelioma is the exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma of the tunica serosa uteri: it is a type of mesothelioma that grows in tunica serosa uteri. It is also a rare type of cancer.

Though there are some more types of mesothelioma but they are very rare and we even do not have enough information about them.







Malignant Mesothelioma - Types, Causes, Stages and Treatment Options


Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon form of cancerous tumors originating in the body tissue known as the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a specialized layer of cells that line and protect many internal organs such as the chest and abdominal cavities.

Types of Malignant Mesothelioma

The first type of malignant mesothelioma is called Pleural Mesothelioma or mesothelioma of the pleura. It is the most common type of mesothelioma making up approximately 75% of all mesothelioma cases. The pleura is a thin serous membrane found between the lungs and the chest cavity that provides a lubricated surface preventing the lungs from chafing against the chest walls. It also serves as a protective layer.

The second most common type of mesothelioma is Peritoneal Mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the peritoneum. The peritoneum is a thin serous membrane that encloses the organs of the abdomen. Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a rare form of malignant mesothelioma cancer. This disease accounts for approximately 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma cases. It tends to be a more invasive form of cancer; patients diagnosed with this disease have a shorter life expectancy than if they had attracted Pleural Mesothelioma.

The third and least common type of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma also known as mesothelioma of the pericardium. It accounts for less than 10% of all mesothelioma cases. The pericardium (heart sac) is the serous membrane that surrounds and protects the heart.

There are about 2,200 new cases of malignant mesothelioma of the visceral pleura each year. Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose and is rarely curable. The most common symptoms are dyspnea and chest wall pain.

Causes



Asbestos is the predominant cause of malignant mesothelioma of the visceral pleura. The period between the time of exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms is about 20 to 50 years. Because of this late onset, it occurs most commonly in the later years of life. It also occurs more often in men than in women.

Diagnosis

Doctors usually make an incision through the chest wall and insert an instrument called a thoracoscope between two ribs to view the area. Doctors will then do a biopsy to select a tissue sample that can be analyzed under a microscope.

Stages of Mesothelioma

Stage I: The cancer is found in the lining of the chest cavity near the lung and heart or in the diaphragm or the lung.

Stage II: The cancer has spread beyond the lining of the chest to lymph nodes in the chest.

Stage III: Cancer has spread into the chest wall, center of the chest, heart, through the diaphragm, or abdominal lining, and in some cases into nearby lymph nodes.

Stage IV: Cancer has spread to distant organs or tissues.

Treatment



Radiation and radiotherapy are used in situations where the cancer is localized at the point of origin.

Chemotherapy is used in more advanced stages of malignant mesotheliomas.

Cytoreductive surgery plus hyperthermic (heated) chemotherapy improves the survival and quality of life for patients with peritoneal metastases (tumors involving the lining of the abdomen).

Surgery is the option used for Stage I malignant mesothelioma. For stages II to IV, treatment by surgery is still evolving.




Dave Casey is a medical writer for Mesothelioma-Adviser.com, a guide for mesothelioma lung cancer victims. Visit the site for informative articles on the causes of mesothelioma, mesothelioma stages and treatment options.

Copyright 2007 Mesothelioma-Adviser.com




Monday, 12 March 2012

Types of Mesothelioma


About Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a disease known to usually affect people who have a high exposure to asbestos. It is a form of a tumour that affects the stomach and the other abdominal parts of the body ,especially the mesothelial cells that are present in an organ. The treatment of this disease depends on early diagnosis and the stage in which the patient is at present. Accordingly suitable treatments may be suggested ranging from surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Types of Mesothelioma

There are mainly three types of Mesothelioma that can affect the human body namely ,Pleural

Mesothelioma, Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma

It is the most common type which occurs at a high rate. It results in the mesothelial cells dividing abnormally and spreads malignancy to the surrounding areas resulting in complications of the other organs present in the body.In case the Pleural Mesothelioma is not cancerous and malignant it can be removed surgically and is less risky. Whereas in case it turns out to be malignant it becomes very serious and tends to shorten the life expectancy of the patient.

In such cases there is a accumulation of fluid caused due to the tumour in the pleura.As the

pleura starts thickening it reduces the capacity of the lungs and does not enable proper

breathing. As a result of this a patient suffering from Pleural Mesothelioma finds it difficult to

breathe normally. Once the tumour starts spreading outwardly to the chest walls and the ribs,

the patient also experiences chest pains.

Apart from these he also exhibits some common symptoms like cough, fever ,tiredness, unexplained weight loss with loss of appetite. Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma is slightly complicated and difficult to achieve compared to the other types.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

It is the second most common type of Mesothelioma found in humans. It occurs usually when the patient is exposed to asbestos and known to affect the peritoneum membrane. Patients suffering from this type of tumour exhibit most of the similar symptoms like those suffering from Pleural Mesothelioma. The symptoms are characterised by abdominal pain and swelling along with fever, loss of weight resulting in fluid accumulation developing around the peritoneum.

The presence of Peritoneal Mesothelioma can be confirmed by conducting a biopsy though X-rays and CT scans can prove to be useful in initial diagnosis. Further a microscopic analysis is done using specialised stains. Treatment may be provided at this stage of diagnosis using a combination of chemotherapy, radio therapy or any other surgical intervention to reduce the extent of the spread of this tumour.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

This type of Mesothelioma is the least common amongst all the types of Mesothelioma affecting humans. As the name suggests it causes tumour in the pericardial membrane which forms a lining to the heart The symptoms are accompanied by chest pain ,chronic cough and a fluid accumulation around the heart, palipitations along with similar symptoms as exhibited in other types of Mesothelioma.

Compared to other types of Mesothelioma it is less life threatning provided it is diagnosed on time with proper surgical intervention.

Treatments generally used for Mesothelioma

- Chemotherapy

- Radiation therapy

- Surgery

Some of the new treatments used in treating Mesothelioma

- Gene Therapy.

- Immunotherapy.

- Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy ( IMRT)

- Non-chemotherapy drugs like Veglin and Avastin .

Mesothelioma is a serious and a life-threatning disease and an early diagnosis can prevent further complication that can harm the patients. Advanced medical studies are been conducted to find a better solution in curing this dreadful disease. New drugs are been tested and developed and maybe in the years to come by hopefully an effective treatment should emerge in curing Mesothelioma successfully.




Sara Sentor
Webmaster
http://www.mesotheliomaresourceonline.com




The 4 Main Types of Mesothelioma - A Closer Look at How They Are Different


Mesothelioma is the general term used for any type of cancer that occurs in the mesothelium, which is the tissue that surrounds one's vital organs. While all forms of mesothelioma are a result of exposure to asbestos, a toxic chemical found in many locations, there is more than one type of this form of cancer.

As the mesothelium tissue can be found in many parts of the body, the cancer that develops in this tissue can also be found in different areas. Accordingly, there are four types of mesothelioma currently recognized by medical professionals: testicular, pericardial, peritoneal, and pleural. These names refer to the area of the body in which the cancer is concentrated.

Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular refers to the testicles, so this form of mesothelioma affects the tissue found in this part of the male anatomy. This is the least common form of the disease, and as such, there is not a great deal of information available on prevalence statistics or common treatments. There have been less than one hundred cases of this type of mesothelioma reported at this point.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Also one of the more rare forms of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma affects the mesothelium found around the heart. The symptoms, which include a persistent cough, heart palpitations, shortness of breath, problems breathing, and chest pain, are difficult to differentiate from those of pleural mesothelioma.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

The peritoneum refers to the lining of the abdominal cavity, which is why the cancer that occurs in this tissue is referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma. This cancer affects the tissues surrounding the organs found in the abdomen, including the stomach and intestines. Peritoneal mesothelioma is more common than either testicular or pericardial mesothelioma, accounting for somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the total number of mesothelioma cases reported. Some symptoms of this form of cancer include pain or swelling in the abdomen, bowel issues, anemia, problems breathing, nausea, blood clotting, loss of appetite, vomiting, and chest pains.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Approximately three quarters of all mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma, making this the most common type of the disease. This type of cancer is concentrated in the tissues around the lungs and those that line the cavity in which the lungs are located. Patients with pleural mesothelioma notice symptoms because fluid builds up between the wall of the chest cavity and the lungs, which makes it harder for the lungs to function properly. Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include finding it hard to breath, pains in the chest area, and a persistent cough.




Each of these four types of mesothelioma is a serious condition. If you or someone you care about may have any form of this cancer, it is important to seek qualified legal advice from mesothelioma attorneys who have experience in this complex area of the law.




Sunday, 11 March 2012

Types of Mesothelioma Cancer


Mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer that affects the serous membranes surrounding the major organs of the body i.e. the lungs, heart and the abdominal organs, causing these vital organs to inflate with excessive fluid. This fluid further causes the improper functioning of the organs. The only known cause of this cancerous tumor is asbestos exposure. In this disease, malignant cells are built up in the protective linings (serous membranes) of several internal organs known as mesothelium. Different organs in the abdomen cavity can get affected by mesothelioma because of the presence of the protective linings surrounding them. The most common types of mesothelioma include:

* Pleural Mesothelioma,

* Peritoneal Mesothelioma, and

* Pericardial Mesothelioma.

Pleural Mesothelioma is a tumor in which the lining of the lungs, or lung pleura, gets affected by malignant cells. The pleura is a soft protective tissue that surrounds the lungs in the chest cavity. It helps the lungs in breathing (respiration) by producing a serous fluid that lubricates the pleural surfaces to avoid the teasing of the lungs against the chest wall. The malignant cells, once entered the pleura, begin to spread and affect the surrounding organs and tissues. This leads to further complications resulting pain and severe symptoms.

Mesothelioma affecting pleura is of two categories:

Diffused or Malignant (Cancerous):

It is the serious form of pleural mesothelioma that affects the pleural lining of the lungs and its surrounding organs.

Localized and Benign (Non-cancerous):

It is the non-cancerous form of mesothelioma, which does not affect all parts of the body except the pleura. However, it constricts the lung causing shortness of breath, and in some severe cases, pneumothorax (lung failure).

Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a tumor of the peritoneum membrane or the abdomen lining, affecting many organs in the abdominal cavity including stomach. This form of mesothelioma cancer is less common than the pleural form but is more aggressive, resulting severe symptoms and short life expectancy. Like many other cancers, peritoneal mesothelioma can also be either malignant or benign.

Pericardial or Pericardium Mesothelioma is the rarest form of cancer, counting less than 10% of mesothelioma cases. In this form of cancer, fluid gets accumulated in the sac that encloses the heart. The main cause of this disease is the inhalation of asbestos fibers.

Due to the rarity of this disease, doctors and researchers have not clearly understood how the asbestos fibers enter the heart lining or pericardium. The only logical explanation so far about this form of cancer is the possibility of the asbestos fibers, converted into tiny pieces, transported from the lung into the heart by means of blood circulation. Once the asbestos fibers enter the heart, they expand the tissues in the chest cavity and the pericardium with excessive liquid, disrupting the working of the heart and causing chest pains with breathing disorders.

Each year, approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed. At some point of their lives, the patients of mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos that later cause the hideous cancer of mesothelioma. If you, at some point of your life, have worked in an asbestos-rich environment or used any asbestos materials, you should contact a mesothelioma doctor for correct diagnosis and best treatment options available.




Jennifer White is a professional Health Writer having expertise in the filed of cancer especially mesothelioma and lung cancer.




Mesothelioma Types and Their Symptoms


Mesothelioma, or the cancer of mesothelium, is a fatal tumor that affects pleura, peritoneum, and pericardium - linings around lungs, abdomen, and heart respectively. It is a fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos, a naturally occurring mineral.

Mesothelioma cancer be benign, i.e. it can be non-cancerous and non-spreading or it can be malignant i.e. cancerous and spread to other parts of the body leading to death. Its primary cause is prolonged exposure to asbestos and it has a latency period of about 30 to 50 years.

Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma can be classified into three types depending on the area of body affected by it.

There are 3 common types of mesothelioma:

1. Pleural Mesothelioma

2. Peritoneal Mesothelioma

3. Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

The most common form of mesothelioma, Pleural Mesothelioma (cancer of pleura) is a tumor of the protective lining around the lungs. It can be either benign or malignant.

The pleura is a sac-like membrane made of two layers between which the pleural fluid is released. This fluid in turn acts like a lubricating agent and helps the lungs to function smoothly during breathing.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma are:

o Shortness of breath

o Chest pain

o Back pain

o Pain in the rib cage

Other symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma, for both benign and cancerous forms, include:

o Fluid build-up in the lung lining

o Hoarseness

o Coughing up blood

o Swelling of the face and arms

o Muscle weakness

o Paralysis

o Sensory loss

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Another common form of mesothelioma is peritoneal mesothelioma or cancer of the peritoneum that causes tumor in the abdominal lining. Like pleural it can be benign or malignant.

The peritoneum is the membrane that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity and also includes:

o Tunica Vaginalis Testis (mesothelial tissue lining the male internal reproductive organs)

o Tunica Serosa Uteri (mesothelial tissue lining the female reproductive organs).

Symptoms

The fluid released in the peritoneum helps in the smooth functioning of these organs. When the peritoneum is affected, some common symptoms experienced are:

o Stomach pain

o Weight loss

o Nausea

o Vomiting

o Hernia

o Bowel obstruction

o Fluid in the abdominal cavity

If the cancer spreads beyond the abdominal cavity, additional symptoms can be found, such as:

o Anemia

o Blood clotting abnormalities

o Trouble swallowing

o Swelling of neck, face or arms

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma or the cancer of pericardium is a tumor of the protective sac-like lining around the heart.

Pericardium protects the heart by:

o Smoothening its motion against surrounding organs

o Limiting its motion so that it stays in the chest cavity

o Preventing it from over-expansion during excess influx of blood

Symptoms

When pericardium's function is affected by mesothelioma, the following symptoms may occur:

o Chest pain

o Shortness of breath

o Fluid accumulation in the lining

If the mesothelioma cancer spreads to other organs of the body, it can affect their normal functioning and cause painful symptoms. Thus, it is important that mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed on time and proper treatment is given to save the patient's life.




Laura Russell is a professional Health Writer having expertise in the filed of Mesothelioma Cancer.




Saturday, 10 March 2012

Types Of Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases


There are different types of mesothelioma asbestos diseases because the asbestos can damage various parts of the body. These are named for their location in the body as well as for their progression.

Some of these mesothelioma asbestos diseases are:



Pleural mesothelioma - This is the most talked about form of mesothelioma cancer as it invades the inner lining of the lungs and causes respiratory symptoms like coughing, shortness of breath, and fatigue. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this disease.



Peritoneal mesothelioma - In the body, there is a sac that keeps the body parts separate from the skin in order to protect them and to cushion them called the peritoneum. When the asbestos has damaged this lining of the body, it's referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms often include abdominal pain, weight loss, problems with bowels, ascites (fluid in the abdomen), and sometimes a mass is palpable. This cancerous disease can be hard to detect as the symptoms are vague.



Pericardial mesothelioma - This is a cancer that affects the sac that is surrounding the heart, or the pericardium. When this lining is affected, patients can have problems with their blood pressure in addition to respiratory problems.
Some patients will also have troubles with esophageal mesothelioma cancer which affects the throat of the patient. These kinds of mesothelioma asbestos diseases can cause troubles with swallowing and eating.

There are rare forms of benign mesothelioma too that do not technically have the cancerous symptoms and cell growth, but is still dangerous for breathing and the disease can affect your quality of life.

The main concern with each of these mesothelioma diseases is the spread of the asbestos related disease to other parts of the body. If the cancer has spread, it can become more difficult to treat or require more aggressive chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

While there isn't one part of the body that is more reactive to the cancer, any cancerous spreads in the and around the heart and lungs are going to be the most serious of the three asbestos diseases.

These many types of mesothelioma asbestos diseases remind us that the exposure to asbestos is far more dangerous than we could have thought. And that if you feel you were exposed at any point in your life, you may want to check with your doctor about getting tested.





Dave Casey writes for Mesothelioma-Adviser.com, the web's premier guide on mesothelioma cancer. Visit the site for informative articles on subjects such as mesothelioma diagnosis and asbestos legislation.

Copyright 2007 Mesothelioma-Adviser.com




Types and Stages of Pleural Mesothelioma


Pleural mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor involving the mesothelial cells that make up the pleura or lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs. It can also involve the heart and abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers, including chrysotile, amosite, or crocidolite that occurred twenty or more years before the disease becomes evident. These fibers are ingested into to the body through breathing or swallowing. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for about 75% of all cases.

Types of Plural Mesothelioma

"Localized and benign" mesothelioma is non-life threatening and can be removed by surgery.

"Diffuse and malignant" mesothelioma is a cancer that generally results in death within one year of diagnosis.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Chest wall pain, pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lung, shortness of breath, weight loss, fatigue or anemia, wheezing, hoarseness, or cough and blood in the sputum (fluid) coughed up. Patients may develop several tumor masses. Patients may experience pneumothorax, or collapse of the lung. The disease may metastasize, or spread, to other parts of the body.

Stages of Pleural Mesothelioma

There are four stages of this disease. Localized pleural mesothelioma cancer ranging from - Stage I; the cancer remains on the membrane surface where it originated to Stage IV; advanced. In this final stage, the cancer has (metastasized) spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Screening and Diagnosis

Doctors first review the patient's medical history including any exposure to asbestos. The doctor may perform a complete physical examination. Doctors are then likely to order x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. These tests include various imaging tests such as CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer. Doctors perform a thoracoscopy on patients showing symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma. This procedure involves making a small cut through the chest wall then inserting a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Doctors suction out any access fluid in the lungs through a procedure called thoracentesis. They can then obtain tissue samples for analysis. Other types of tube insertions include bronchoscopy or a mediastinoscopy

Treatment Options

Here are some of the most widely used treatments at this time.

Surgical removal of the entire lung and a part of the chest lining, the diaphragm and part of the sac surrounding the heart.

Radiotherapy is applied to the sites of chest drain insertion, in order to prevent growth of the tumor along the track in the chest wall. Though not particularly successful, radiation is preformed to relieve symptoms arising from tumor growth, such as obstruction of a major blood vessel.

Chemotherapy is used to stop the cancer cells from growing and dividing.

It is important to note that there are no successful treatments for pleural mesothelioma to date. Patients usually have a median survival time of 6 - 12 months after presentation of the symptoms.




Dave Casey is a medical writer for Mesothelioma-Adviser.com, a guide for mesothelioma cancer victims. Visit the site for mesothelioma cancer help, articles on asbestosis symptoms and legal advice.

Copyright 2007 Mesothelioma-Adviser.com




Two Broad Types of Mesothelioma


Mesothelioma, like all other types of cancers, can be divided into two broad groups: benign and malignant.

Benign mesothelioma refers to non-cancerous tumors developing usually in the pleura (cell lining around the lungs). The main difference between the benign and the cancerous form is that the former does not spread to other tissues. However, the symptoms of both the benign and the malignant form are the same and it is often difficult to distinguish between the two except through lung biopsies. However, less than 10% of cases of mesothelioma are benign. In half of the cases of benign mesothelioma, there are no symptoms at all.

Patients may learn of the disease through routine X-Ray scans of the lungs. In the other half, benign mesothelioma symptoms include: chest pain, chronic cough, and fever. However, the most distinguishable characteristic is the presence of clubbed fingers. This arises when the blood oxygen level falls resulting in distorted angles in the nail beds. Benign mesothelioma treatment is comparatively easy. It involves removal of the tumors surgically. Patients must continue to have regular check-ups and chest x-rays to ensure that the benign mesothelioma does not develop in its malignant form.

Malignant mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease. This type of mesothelioma can be further classified into the location where the malignant tumor arises or the type of cancer cells produced. Classification into the location of the cancer gives three types of mesothelioma cancer:

(i) Pleural mesothelioma: this arises in the protective lining and the cavity of the lungs. Most of the symptoms associated with it arise due to the build-up of fluid between the chest cavity and the lining of the lungs (called pleural effusion). This results in difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, persistent coughing, coughing up of blood and fever. This is the most common form of mesothelioma cancer representing 75% of all cases

(ii) Peritoneal mesothelioma: this is the development of cancer in the stomach and the abdomen. The cancer usually starts in the abdominal area and spreads to other parts of the body. Symptoms are due to the pressure of the tumor on the stomach and the abdomen, causing abdominal pain, swelling, loss of appetite, vomiting, breathing problems, anemia and a host of other symptoms. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for 10-20% of mesothelioma cases.

(iii) Pericardial mesothelioma: this affects the lining of the heart cavity. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath and palpitations. This is the rarest form of mesothelioma, representing less than 10% of cases.

Another way to classify mesothelioma is through the type of cancerous cells that arise. There are basically two types of mesothelioma cells: epitheloid and sarcomatoid. Epitheloid cells arise in the lining of the organs only. The chances of survival are greater with this type of cancer. Sarcomatoid cells are more difficult to treat as it affects secondary tissues such as bones, muscles, cartilage...etc. This type of cancer rarely responds to any form of treatment. In cases where both types of cells arise, it is known as biphasic mesothelioma.




Are you looking for more information on Mesothelioma and want to find out exactly what the Mesothelioma Symptoms are? Then I suggest you check us out online at MesotheliomaMedical.com immediately!