What is Pleural Mesothelioma ?
Mesothelioma, more precisely malignant mesothelioma, is a rare form of cancer that develops from the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs, the mesothelium. It is usually caused by exposure to asbestos.Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but it may also occur in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart,the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis.
Pleural Mesothelioma Symptoms ?
The most common symptom for pleural mesothelioma patients is chest pain. But, the pain often is not associated directly with the lung pleura and often appears in the shoulder or upper abdomen. Shortness of breath, called dyspnea, is also a symptom. Cough, weight loss and anorexia are present in some patients, but are less common. Finally, the rapid growth of the pleural mesothelioma cancer tumors enlarges the pleural space, causing it to fill with fluid. Oftentimes, this buildup of fluid known as a pleural effusion causes the discomfort or pain associated with first detection of the disease.
Pleural Mesothelioma Prognosis
Most patients' mesothelioma prognosis is quite bleak. In a study involving 167 patients with proven pleural mesothelioma, the median survival rate of patients following diagnosis was 242 days. In a study involving 167 patients with proven pleural mesothelioma, the median survival rate of patients following diagnosis was 242 days. The survival rate was also affected by the type of mesothelioma cancer cells; patients with biphasic cell types have the shortest life expectancy.
The types of Pleural mesothelioma will be explained in the next article.
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