Malignant Mesothelioma - Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant Mesothelioma - Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers the majority of the organs in the abdomen). Malignant mesothelioma may also form in the heart or testicles, but this is rare.

Being exposed to asbestos can involve the risk of malignant mesothelioma.

Signs and symptoms of malignant mesothelioma include shortness of breath and pain under the rib cage.

Tests that examine the inside of the chest and abdomen are used to notice and diagnose malignant mesothelioma.

Certain factors affect prognosis (chance of recovery) and treatment options.

Malignant Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Most mesothelioma patients have a malignant epithelioid cell type, which occurs in 70 percent of all diagnoses. It is the the majority treatable type of mesothelioma.

What is Epithelioid Mesothelioma?

Epithelial cells, which are healthy and prevalent in the human body, can change into deadly epithelioid mesothelioma cells when exposed to asbestos. Patients with epithelioid mesothelioma often have a better prognosis and more treatment options than those with sarcomatoid or biphasic cell types.

Epithelial mesothelioma cells have a exact structure with visible nuclei. This is the most common variant of this type of mesothelioma cancer, accounting for about 60 percent of all cases. This type of mesothelioma develops when malignant cells expand on any of the mesothelial linings. When examined under a microscope, these mesothelioma cell types are of a uniform size and shape, and resemble normal, healthy epithelial cells.

Epithelial mesothelioma cells also stand a strong resemblance to adenocarcinoma cells, which are also associated with lung tissue. Patients who have been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma should also be examined for mesothelioma diagnosis as well.

Characteristics of Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Cell Prevalence

Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most frequent diagnosis and has the most excellent prognosis. It is most common in white men over the age of 45 with a pleural diagnosis.

Cell Description

Epithelioid cells have a clearly defined, elongated egg-shape. Their visible nuclei make it easier to distinguish this cell type.

Cell Behavior

Epithelioid cells divide faster than other mesothelioma cell types, contributing to faster tumor increase. However, the cells stick to each other, which slow down metastasis.

Treatment for epithelioid mesothelioma

Treatment for epithelioid mesothelioma is often the same for the other types of mesothelioma. Fortunately, treatment for epithelioid type mesothelioma is more successful than other types of mesothelioma.

Some patients may be eligible for an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which can considerably increase life expectancy. If tumors haven’t spread from the pleura to the actual lung patients may take benefit of a lung sparing pleurectomy with decortication (P/D).

Those with epithelioid peritoneal mesothelioma may take benefit of cytoreductive surgery. There is no excepted staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma so finding a specialist and getting a second opinion is more important than ever.

However, other standard forms of treatment are also used, such as chemotherapy and radiation. There have also been successes with alternative treatment options, such as gene therapy, photodynamic therapy, and strength modulated radiation therapy. These types of treatment methods are currently being researched in hopes of rising a mesothelioma treat.