What is [Mesothelioma]? [Mesothelioma] from the (Greek meso+ thelioma, tumor of middle lining tissue) is an uncommon cancer, originating from the cells which form the reverse osmosis membrane lining the abdominal cavity (peritoneal membrane or peritoneum) which houses the intestines, or the chest (pleural membrane or pleura) cavity housing the heart and lungs, in which the cells making up those tissues begin to grow out of control.[Mesothelioma]s most often are seen in older patients, more often men that have a history of occupational exposure to asbestos, although other causes such as radiation and certain viruses have occasionally been implicated. For more information about UV water sterilizer (visit the following page) review our own web-page. In a proportion of cases, no asbestos exposure can be identified.
[Mesothelioma]s involving the lung and pleura characteristically present as progressive shortness of breath due to the thickening of the lining membrane of the lung with gradual contraction of the breathing space; often, fluid accumulates in the lung spaces as well, further interfering with breathing, [Mesothelioma]s involving the abdominal cavity present with digestive symptoms, and abdominal swelling due to thickening of the lining membranes of the gut, and accumulation of large amounts of fluid in the abdomen.
How serious is it ? [Mesothelioma]s are serious and potentially life-threatening. Survival of patients with [Mesothelioma] is usually short if effective treatment is not found, especially those with tumors that can be shown to be growing aggressively. Because [Mesothelioma]s have usually spread throughout the pleural or peritoneal cavity before the diagnosis is made, complete surgical removal is only rarely possible. Moreover, [Mesothelioma]s are not as sensitive to radiation therapy or chemotherapy as are many other tumors.
How are [Mesothelioma]s diagnosed? In all cases, the diagnosis of [Mesothelioma] must first be unquestionably established by biopsy of affected or suspicious tissues, and by definitive microscopic examination by a trained pathologist. Biopsy almost always requires an invasive procedure such as thoracoscopy and pleural biopsy, or laparotomy or laparoscopy, The removed tissues may be treated with special biological or chemical stains which are used to help the pathologist establish a firm diagnosis. The pathologist usually also comments upon the rate of growth and biological virulence of the tumor
Second, the tumor must be staged if possible by X-ray, CAT scan, MRI or other types of scans to clarify its location within the body, and to estimate the likelihood of effective curative or palliative therapy. Staging of [Mesothelioma] by x-ray measurements, however, is difficult and often unreliable.
How are [Mesothelioma]s treated? A treatment plan is devised depending upon the [Mesothelioma] type, aggressiveness, primary location, and degree of local (rarely, distant) spread. The treatment of pleural [Mesothelioma] is difficult. Treatment with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy used alone or in combination may be proposed, depending upon the potential benefits and risks of each modality. Surgery is rarely used alone, but sometimes suffices when only a small pleural patch of [Mesothelioma] is detected, thus allowing visually complete removal of the tumor. More often, [Mesothelioma]s of the left or right pleural cavity cannot be completely removed without taking the entire lung (pneumonectomy) on the same side as well. In such cases, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy is given postoperatively to help eradicate any residual [Mesothelioma] that may have escaped the surgeon.
The treatment of peritoneal [Mesothelioma]s is even more problematic; until recently no consistent treatment was available. At our institution, peritoneal [Mesothelioma]s have been managed in the experimental setting with combined modality treatment consisting of extensive (usually not complete) debulking surgery, followed by intraperitoneal and systemic chemotherapy followed in turn by whole abdominal radiation therapy.
Because [Mesothelioma]s now represent less than one percent of cancers and and are infrequently seen in the practice of most community oncologists, finding the correct treatment can be very difficult. Proper management of [Mesothelioma]s often requires evaluation at larger tertiary hospitals or Comprehensive Cancer Centers by specialists in medical, surgical and radiation oncology with experience in all aspects of the clinical care of [Mesothelioma] patients, including the newest experimental treatments.
