Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon cancerous tumor of the lining of the lung and chest cavity (pleura) or lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) that is typically due to long-term asbestos exposure.
Alternative Names
Malignant mesothelioma
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Long-term exposure to asbestos -- a fire-resistant material -- is the biggest risk factor. Asbestos was once commonly found in insulation, ceiling and roofing vinyls, cement, and automotive brake materials. Although many asbestos workers smoked, experts do not believe smoking is a cause.
Malignant mesothelioma affects men more often than women. The average age at diagnosis is 60.
Cases of mesothelioma seem to be increasing worldwide.
Symptoms
Symptoms may not appear until 20 - 50 years or longer after exposure to asbestos, and may include:
Mesotheliomas are often hard to diagnose under the microscope. It can be hard to distinguish between this type of tumor and other conditions and tumors of the pleura. More than one specialist may be involved in examining the biopsy. It may take some time for the diagnosis to be made.
Treatment
There is no cure. Untreated, the average malignant mesothelioma patient survives 9 months. It is a difficult cancer to treat.
Mesothelioma (benign-fibrous) (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Benign mesothelioma is a noncancerous tumor of the lining of the lung and chest cavity, an area called the pleura. See also: Malignant mesothelioma Reviewer: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 08/29/2008
Thoracic CT (10 images)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Thoracic CT is a computed tomography scan of the chest and upper abdomen. Reviewer: Stuart Bentley-Hibbert, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/18/2007
Asbestosis (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Asbestosis is a respiratory disease brought on by inhaling asbestos fibers. Reviewer: Allen J. Blaivas, DO, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine UMDNJ-NJMS, Attending Physician in the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs, VA New Jersey Health Care System, East Orange, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 04/24/2009
Radiation therapy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Radiation therapy uses high powered x-rays or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells. Reviewer: James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/30/2008
Chemotherapy (1 image)(Doctor-Reviewed information)
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill bacteria, viruses, fungi, and cancer cells. Most commonly, the term is used to refer to cancer-killing drugs. This article focuses on cancer chemotherapy. Reviewer: James R. Mason, MD, Oncologist, Director, Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program and Stem Cell Processing Lab, Scripps Clinic, Torrey Pines, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 09/30/2008
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