Sarcomatoid
The word sarcoma refers to a specific type of
cancer that occurs in the body's connective tissues, such as bone, cartilage, fat and/or muscle.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a rare variant of that
disease in which the cells have taken on an elongated, spindle-like form, similar in appearance to connective tissues.
Call us at (888) 360-4215 to speak with a mesothelioma paralegal
is the more common variety, and actually responds better to
treatment when caught in its early stages.
Sarcomatoid, while the more unusual of the two, is an aggressive and dangerous variant; it is far more difficult to
treat.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is not the same as sarcomatoid carcinoma, although the two are easily confused. Primarily occurring among men, sarcomatoid carcinoma is strongly connected to the use of tobacco in the form of cigarettes. The main difference is in where they arise; sarcomatoid mesothelioma attacks the pleural lining of the lung, which is known as the mesothelium. Sarcomatoid carcinoma on the other hand arises from the epithelium, which is a tissue composed of cell layers that line the inner lungs, gastrointestinal tract and the reproductive and urinary tracts. Epithelium is one of the primary tissues of the human body.
Diagnosis of any type of mesothelioma often poses challenges. There are two reasons for this: one lies in its latency period, which is the amount of time between initial exposure to asbestos and the appearance of symptoms. Often, this is anywhere from twenty to forty years (although in the case of one first responder of 11 September 2001, it was as little as four years).
The other problem is the fact that mesothelioma is a type of cancer that spreads like a flat sheet rather than a lump. This is one reason why it is often difficult to detect, and why symptoms do not become apparent right away.