Pleural Mesothelioma
Pleural mesothelioma is
cancer of the
mesothelium, which is the tissue that lines the lungs, stomach, heart and other organs. Most cases of
mesothelioma begin in the lining of the lungs (
pleura), and pleural mesothelioma accounts for over 75% of all mesothelioma cases.
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It is thought that pleural mesothelioma stems from
exposure to asbestos fibers, typically in an industrial/
construction environment. The fibers become airborne and travel to the lungs, where they become imbedded in the pleura (1). Through a process not fully understand, these fibers can lead to cancerous tumors, usually after an extended
latency period.
The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma often include chest pain, coughing, and shortness of breath (dyspnea). Commonly, as the disease progress, fluid accumulates between the parietal pleura (the membrane covering the chest wall and diaphragm) and the visceral pleura (the membrane covering the lungs). This condition is known as pleural effusion, and it needs to be drained before pressure in the chest and reduced respiration become too great (1).
Diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is difficult, and doctors usually order a range of tests, including X-Ray, MRI, and CT scans. Typically, a sample of the diseased tissue (biopsy) is needed to confirm diagnose. In many cases, the disease is not diagnosed until it has already reached the advanced stages, and most often treatment options are limited at that point. Because the tumors are often widespread by the time the condition is diagnosed, many patients are not candidates for tumor removal surgery. Those who are may benefit from an extrapleural pneumonectomy (removal of a lung and the rest of the diseased tissue), which has the highest patient survival rates (2). Most often, pleural mesothelioma patients are treated with radiation or chemotherapy-or a combination of the two-to reduce the size of the tumor and increase patient comfort .