Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Epithelioid Mesothelioma Symptoms

As with all types of mesothelioma, epithelioid mesothelioma typically presents with mild and vague symptoms. For this reason, it is sometimes mistaken for more common health problems with similar symptoms, like pneumonia or asthma.

According to Moffitt Cancer Center, one of the earliest symptoms of epithelial mesothelioma is a cough that won’t go away.

These mesothelioma symptoms appear in other cell types as well. For example, chest pain, a persistent cough, and shortness of breath are all early symptoms of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, according to Moffitt Cancer Center.

Without a proper diagnosis and treatment plan, these symptoms worsen as the cancer spreads throughout the body.

Epithelial Mesothelioma Diagnosis

To diagnose malignant (cancerous) epithelioid mesothelioma, doctors follow a multi-step process.

This process includes:

1. Ruling out other conditions: Doctors will first see if more common health problems could be the cause of the symptoms. They may also actively look for possible signs of mesothelioma, such as pleural effusions (fluid buildup in the lung lining).
2. Imaging Tests: Doctors can use imaging tests such as X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, or computed tomography (CT) scans to look for tumors, scar tissue, or other health problems associated with mesothelioma.
3. Biopsy: Imaging tests can not conclusively diagnose mesothelioma. If doctors believe that cancer could be the cause of your symptoms, they will request a biopsy. Through a biopsy, a specialist takes a tissue or fluid sample of the affected area and examines it under a microscope to see if cancer cells are present.

The only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis is through a biopsy since doctors need to see and identify the specific cells that make up cancerous tumors and growths.

Specialists should also test biomarkers to distinguish these cells from other similar illnesses (such as lung and ovarian cancer). Biomarkers are measurable substances within the body that appear when certain diseases or infections are present.

Once a mesothelioma diagnosis is made, doctors can determine if the malignant cells belong to an epithelioid cell subtype.

If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may be able to access compensation.

Rare Types of Epithelial Mesothelioma Cells

According to Moffitt Cancer Center, there are several subtypes of epithelioid mesothelioma. Some of these subtypes are extremely rare and, in some cases, benign (non-cancerous).

Subtypes of epithelial mesothelioma include:

• Adenoid Cystic Mesothelioma

  Cystic cells are rare and not fully understood. They are often benign and don’t usually spread to distant sites.

• Adenomatoid Mesothelioma

  Adenomatoid, also known as glandular epithelioid subtype, is very rare and generally originates within a patient’s genital glands.

• Deciduoid Mesothelioma

  Deciduoid cells are characterized by their distinct borders and large oval shapes. This type of mesothelioma is associated with a very poor prognosis, according to the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

• Papillary Mesothelioma

  According to a 2017 report published in Cureus, this subtype is much more common in women than men and is slow to progress. It is also rarely linked to asbestos exposure, unlike almost all other types of mesothelioma.

• Small-Cell Mesothelioma

  Small-cell mesothelioma is an extremely rare subtype that can often be mistaken for other small-cell cancers, according to a paper published in the journal Diagnostic Cytopathology. The name of this epithelioid subtype points to its cells’ uniform but small nature.

Identifying the cell subtype can give doctors a better idea of how long a patient can expect to live with malignant epithelioid mesothelioma, since the subtypes may grow at different speeds and respond uniquely to treatments.

Epithelioid Mesothelioma Treatment

An important factor that affects mesothelioma prognosis and survival times is treatment. Fortunately, epithelioid mesothelioma cells are more responsive to treatments than the other cell types, according to Moffitt Cancer Center.

Like all forms of this cancer, epithelial mesothelioma is typically treated using surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Treatments can vary depending on the patient’s needs, but generally speaking, a combination of these treatments will be used.

Below, get a breakdown of each type of mesothelioma treatment.

Chemotherapy

Through chemotherapy, patients intravenously receive drugs that kill cancerous cells and tumors.

Epithelioid mesothelioma cells often respond better to chemotherapy due to their slower growth rate, according to ASCO.

Multiple rounds of mesothelioma chemotherapy may be needed to get a good response.

Radiation

Doctors may also use radiation therapy to prevent epithelioid mesothelioma cells from dividing.

Mesothelioma radiation therapy is administered by a machine that delivers high-energy electrons to the tumor site, which causes the cells to die and the tumors to shrink.

According to the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, radiation may be used to supplement a surgery or as a main course of treatment if surgery is not an option.

Surgery

Surgery is often an effective way to treat mesothelioma because removing tumors prevents the spread of the cancer and leaves less of it for other treatments to impact.

If the epithelial mesothelioma cells develop in the lining of the lungs, patients may qualify for one of several types of surgeries.

• Extrapleural Pneumonectomy (EPP)

  This surgery removes cancerous tumors in the affected lung, pleura (lung lining), diaphragm, and lymph nodes. This extensive operation is mainly used on patients if the epithelioid mesothelioma has not begun to spread, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).

• Pleurectomy with Decortication (P/D)

  This surgery removes cancerous tumors, the pleura, and diaphragm closest to the mesothelioma tumors, but does not remove the lung. This can allow patients to recover with a lower risk of extreme complications.

An EPP is not usually recommended if the cancer has advanced throughout the body or if the patient has other health problems, but a P/D may still be an option in some cases.

Other mesothelioma surgeries may be used to remove cancerous tumors and organ linings if the cancer develops in the peritoneum (abdomen lining) or pericardium (heart lining).

For example, patients with peritoneal epithelioid mesothelioma may receive cytoreduction surgery with HIPEC. Through this surgery, doctors remove all visible cancer tumors and then bathe the peritoneum with heated chemotherapy drugs.

Multimodal Therapy and Survival Times

When the mesothelioma treatments above are combined, it is known as multimodal therapy. Research has shown that multimodal therapy can help improve the long-term survival rates of patients with epithelial mesothelioma.

For example, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute studied the lifespans of patients who underwent EPPs and received adjuvant (supplemental) radiation and chemotherapy.

Patients with epithelioid mesothelioma lived longer than those with other cell types, as 65% were still alive after 2 years, and 27% were alive after 5 years.

To learn if you’re eligible for compensation to help pay for treatment, get a free case review.

Other Treatment

Outside of the standard treatment options listed above, patients with epithelioid mesothelioma may qualify for new treatments through clinical trials.

For example, upcoming treatment options (such as new drugs or treatment combinations) are tested in mesothelioma clinical trials with the hopes of improving survival rates and finding a cure.

Patients interested in joining a clinical trial should speak with their doctor. Clinical trials have strict requirements depending on what is being studied, so not every patient will qualify.

Hope for Victims of Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Epithelial mesothelioma patients may find hope in knowing that this cell type typically responds well to treatments. Further, survival times may increase over time as new treatments continue to be tested.

That said, a diagnosis can be frustrating or scary — you never expected to develop mesothelioma, and you may be wondering how to provide for your family while you seek medical treatment.

Thankfully, there are options available. Learn how we can help you navigate life after an epithelioid mesothelioma diagnosis.