Mesothelioma, a type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can affect the mesothelium (tissue covering the internal organs) in different areas of the body. Many types of mesothelioma can result from asbestos exposure, and the disease may be classified according to the area of the body affected.
Pleural mesothelioma affects the pleural membrane, or the mesothelium surrounding the lungs. According to the Mesothelioma Center, this type accounts for approximately 70 percent of all cases of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma develops when asbestos particles in the air are inhaled. These particles then cause abnormal cancerous cells to grow in the pleural membranes. Symptoms and complications of pleural mesothelioma may include:
These symptoms are caused by the proliferation of tumor cells that thicken the pleura, and can compress the lungs in the chest cavity. These symptoms can often be mistaken for less serious conditions, such as pneumonia or bronchitis, which may delay proper diagnosis.
When mesothelioma affects the abdominal organs, it is known as peritoneal mesothelioma. This is the second most common type of mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma develops with continuous ingestion of asbestos particles. This brings the asbestos into contact with the stomach and leads to growth of abnormal cells in the mesothelium of the abdominal organs. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
Like pleural mesothelioma, the nonspecific symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can lead to misdiagnosis.
Mesothelioma can also affect the tissue covering of the heart. This is known as pericardial mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is much rarer than both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may include:
When mesothelioma affects the pericardium, the disease has usually progressed to an advanced stage and is difficult to treat.
Mesothelioma can also be classified according to the cell type causing the cancer. These three types can only be differentiated through examination under a microscope, and are the following:
Benign tumor growths can also develop in the mesothelium. The cause of these tumors, called benign mesothelioma, is unknown. Benign mesothelioma tumors are not composed of abnormal cancer cells, and will not spread to other areas of the body. They can, however, cause symptoms similar symptoms to those associated with malignant mesothelioma, particularly if they grow to large sizes. Benign mesothelioma is usually treated early with surgical removal of the tumor.
Asbestos.com Staff. (n.d.). Benign mesothelioma. Retrieved December 21, 2009, from the Abestos.com Web site: http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/benign.php.
Mesolink.org Staff. (n.d.). The different types of mesothelioma. Retrieved December 21, 2009, from the Mesolink.org Web site: http://www.mesolink.org/resources/types-of-mesothelioma.html.
Mesothelioma Center Staff. (n.d.). Pleural mesothelioma. Retrieved December 21, 2009, from the Mesothelioma Center Web site: http://www.mesotheliomacenter.org/about/pleural-mesothelioma.php.
Mesothelioma Web Staff. (2009). Mesothelioma cell types. Retrieved December 21, 2009, from the Mesotheliomaweb.org Web site: http://www.mesotheliomaweb.org/mesotheliomacelltypes.htm.
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