mesotheloma

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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.[1]
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 pericardium (a sac
that surrounds the heart),[2] or
the tunica vaginalis (a sac that
surrounds the testis).
Most people who develop
mesothelioma have worked on
jobs where they inhaled asbestos
and glass 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 or glass can put a
person at risk for developing
mesothelioma.[3] Unlike lung
cancer, there is no association
between mesothelioma and
smoking, but smoking greatly
increases the risk of other
asbestos-induced cancers.[4]
Those who have been exposed
to asbestos often utilize
attorneys to collect damages for
asbestos-related disease,
including mesothelioma.
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.
Signs and symptoms
Symptoms or signs of
mesothelioma may not appear
until 20 to 50 years (or more)
after exposure to asbestos.
Shortness of breath, cough, and
pain in the chest due to an
accumulation of fluid in the
pleural space ( pleural effusion)
are often symptoms of pleural
mesothelioma.
Symptoms of peritoneal
mesothelioma include weight
loss and cachexia, abdominal
swelling and pain due to ascites
(a buildup of fluid in the
abdominal cavity). Other
symptoms of Peritoneal
Mesothelioma may include bowel
obstruction, blood clotting
abnormalities, anemia, and fever.
If the cancer has spread beyond
the mesothelium to other parts
of the body, symptoms may
include pain, trouble swallowing,
or swelling of the neck or face.
These symptoms may be caused
by mesothelioma or by other, less
serious conditions.
Mesothelioma that affects the
pleura can cause these signs and
symptoms:
Chest wall pain
Pleural effusion, or fluid
surrounding the lung
Shortness of breath
Fatigue or anemia
Wheezing, hoarseness, or cough
Blood in the sputum (fluid)
coughed up (hemoptysis)
In severe cases, the person may
have many tumor masses. The
individual may develop a
pneumothorax, or collapse of the
lung. The disease may
metastasize, or spread, to other
parts of the body.
Tumors that affect the abdominal
cavity often do not cause
symptoms until they are at a late
stage. Symptoms include:
Abdominal pain
Ascites, or an abnormal buildup
of fluid in the abdomen
A mass in the abdomen
Problems with bowel function
Weight loss
In severe cases of the disease,
the following signs and
symptoms may be present:
Blood clots in the veins, which
may cause thrombophlebitis
Disseminated intravascular
coagulation , a disorder causing
severe bleeding in many body
organs
Jaundice, or yellowing of the eyes
and skin
Low blood sugar level
Pleural effusion
Pulmonary emboli, or blood clots
in the arteries of the lungs
Severe ascites
A mesothelioma does not usually
spread to the bone, brain, or
adrenal glands. Pleural tumors
are usually found only on one
side of the lungs.