Malignant Mesothelioma A Rare Cancer: Culprit Asbestos

Malignant Mesothelioma also called as ‘asbestos cancer’, is an atypical kind of cancer that is detected in the cell lining (mesothelium ) of the heart, lungs, abdomen or the inner reproductive organs. Being exposed to airborne asbestos fibers or particles raises the chances of contracting malignant mesothelioma.

As mesothelial tumors are atypically benign, cancerous pernicious mesothelioma is generally called as ‘mesothelioma’ or offhandedly ‘meso’.

The mesothelium acts as the protective casing for several organs in the body facilitating friction-free movement in-between the organs during the times of expansion and relaxation of the lungs or the heart beating. In US alone many cases of Mesothelioma are reported every year and patients often end up filing mesothelioma lawsuit.

Mesothelioma Types

Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most prevalent form of mesothelioma constituting more than 2/3rds of all reported cases and is known to affect the pleura.

The mesothelium that encases the lungs and the lining of the chest cavity is known as the pleura that comprises of the parietal and visceral pleura. The mesothelium covering the inner organs is known as the visceral mesothelium. The mesothelium covering the body wall is known as the parietal mesothelium.

Asbestos fibers manage to reach into the most infinitesimal passages of the lungs and subsequently making it to the pleura where an indefinite chemical reaction leads to malignant cell development. Once the abnormal cell division starts, there is thickening of the pleural lining leading to the excessive accumulation of fluid known as pleural thickening. This leads to gradual constriction of breathing space leading to breathing distress – mostly being the foremost signs of pleural mesothelioma that is detected on X-rays.

Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath (dyspnea) at times accompanied by cough. On rare occasions, voice turning hoarse, bloody coughs (hemoptysis), dysphagia (bothersome ingestion), Horner’s syndrome.
• Often indistinct pain in the chest that at times might be felt in the upper abdominal area, shoulders or arms.
• Inexplicable weight reduction.
• Fluid accumulation in between the parietal and visceral pleura – pleural effusion.
• Less commonly noted signs of profuse night sweating, fever, feeling the chills.

Peritoneal or Abdominal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a particularly rare cancer that affects the abdominal lining or peritoneum constituting lesser than thirty percent of all the occurring mesothelioma cases. Firstly, asbestos fibers might get consumed that on reaching the intestinal tract, make their course to the peritoneal cavity and peritoneum. Secondly, asbestos might be taken in during inhalation and carried through the lymph node system reaching the peritoneal cavity. Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms could start surfacing nearly two to three decades subsequent to the foremost asbestos exposure.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms:

• Anorexia, reduction in weight though the waist girth could widen and ascites.
• Abdominal swelling or pain due to fluid accumulation or tumor growth.
• Difficulty in bowel movements due to obstruction in the small or large intestine.
• Anemia – Haemoglobin count lesser than normal that impels the heart and other organs to put in additional effort to procure oxygen when needed.
• Fever of unclear origin.
• Less commonly occurring night sweating and hypercoagulabitlity.
• Operative emergency because of acute inflammatory lesions.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma is a rare form of malignant mesothelioma that is known to affect the lining of the heart.

Testicular Mesothelioma

During Testicular Mesothelioma, the mesothelium lining the testis in men could develop malignant mesothelioma. Comparably in women, mesothelioma cancer could develop in the tunica serosa uteri and is an even more rare form as compared to the tunica vaginalis testis.