An infrequent subtype of an already rare cancer, heterologous mesothelioma is less understood than the disease’s various other forms. because only a handful of cases have been documented in medical literature, researchers are still debating an absolute definition of the term, and have yet to determine statistics for its true incidence and survival rates.
the clinical characteristics of heterologous mesothelioma are not much different from other types of mesothelioma. what makes this subtype unique is its histology, or the types and visible structure of the mesothelioma cells present within the tumor.
heterologous mesothelioma tumors are peculiar because they contain bodily tissues different from the tissues in which they form. recorded heterologous elements in mesothelioma tumors include bone, cartilage and soft tissues. as more cases of heterologous mesothelioma emerge, researchers aim to define the term more accurately and uncover how this histological subtype affects the course of mesothelioma treatment and patient survival.
Thursday, 25 July 2013
Omental Mesothelioma
omental mesothelioma is a types of mesothelioma that develops in the omentum, a sheet of fatty tissue in the abdomen that hangs in front of the intestines like an apron. in addition to storing fat and protecting organs, the omentum holds nutrients and prevents internal infections from spreading. the omentum is covered by the peritoneum and, like the peritoneum, contains mesothelial cells which can become cancerous.
omental mesothelioma is usually the result of peritoneal mesothelioma spreading into the omentum. although its extremely rare, it is also possible for mesothelioma to develop in the omentum directly rather than spread to it from another area. to date, fewer than five primary omental mesothelioma cases have been reported in literature. because it is so rare and doctors dont know much about the cancer, it is difficult to diagnose and effectively treat. but in some cases, surgery and chemotherapy have proven successful.
Testicular Mesothelioma
Testicular mesothelioma develops in the membranous lining that surrounds the testicle, the tunica vaginalis, which provides protection and support for the reproductive organ.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer that develops in a thin membrane surrounding the heart, known as the pericardium. the membrane has two layers : an outer layer called the parietal layer, heart sac or theca cordis, and an inner layer known as the visceral layer or epicardium.
pericardial mesothelioma overview
there are four common forms of mesothelioma, and pericardial and testicular mesotheliomas are the rarest. to date, approximately 200 cases of pericardial mesothelioma are presented in medical literature. that represents around 1 percent of all known diagnosed mesotheliomas.
almost all mesothelioma cancers can be traced to an exposure to asbestos, but medical researchers continue to study the link between asbestos and pericardial mesothelioma. studies are clear on how inhaled microscopic fibers reach the lungs to cause pleural mesothelioma, but less clear on how the fibers reach the pericardium.
this form of cancer strikes twice as many men as women, and is most often diagnosed in people between the ages of 50 and 70. like the other forms of mesothelioma, the disease develops over a long period of time — one to five decades — and is typically discovered in a later stage. symptoms include chest pain, fatigue and shortness of breath, among others, and they mimic those of other disorders to make diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma difficult.
treatment options follow that of most other cancers : surgery ( if a patient is deemed healthy enough ), chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or a combination of all three modalities. about half of the people who contract pericardial mesothelioma survive longer than six months.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
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Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second-most common types of mesothelioma, accounting for 10 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases. about 3, 000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed annually in the united states and approximately 300 to 600 of these are peritoneal mesothelioma. asbestos exposure is its primary cause and most cases take more than two decades to develop once asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested. x-rays and other tests are used to detect peritoneal mesothelioma, but biopsies help confirm a diagnosis. although the cancer is usually diagnosed in the later stages of development, treatment options are available to combat symptoms and improve prognosis.
overall prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma patients is less than one year. however life expectancy can increase with effective treatment and early detection. some patients may be candidates for surgery that can send the cancer into remission, while others may elect to receive palliative measures that improve symptoms and quality of life. working with a mesothelioma specialist can help patients receive the best possible care for their cancer and potentially improve prognosis.
Pleural Mesothelioma
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Pleural mesothelioma is one of four types of mesothelioma but accounts for about 75 percent of all diagnoses of asbestos-related cancers. the disease forms in the pleura, the soft protective tissue surrounding the lungs, which can be attributed directly to its cause : repeated or heavy occupational exposure to airborne asbestos fibers.
once inhaled into the lungs, asbestos fibers migrate to the pleural membrane, where they lodge. the body then struggles to get rid of the needle-like fibers. over time, lodged fibers irritate the pleura and can cause chronic inflammation and scarring. infrequently, they cause pleural mesothelioma. in the case of this cancer, asbestos triggers genetic changes in pleural cells. if the cells are cancerous, they divide uncontrolled, forming tumors.
the life expectancy of someone with the disease is four to 18 months, and about 80 percent of the people who contract pleural mesothelioma are older men, a result of the combination of workplace asbestos exposure and the diseases long latency period. the first signs someone has pleural mesothelioma can be a persistent cough and shortness of breath, the result of reduced lung capacity and excess fluid buildup between the pleural layers.
Types of Mesothelioma
There are four main types of mesothelioma, with the most common forms affecting the lining of the lungs or abdominal cavity. each type indicates the area of the body where the cancer originates. additionally, doctors may examine the cellular features of a mesothelioma tumor to learn important characteristics of the disease. this allows them to determine the cancer’s histological type, which is useful to know before starting treatment.
when mesothelioma begins to develop, tumors form on the mesothelial lining surrounding the lungs, abdomen, heart or testicles. these types of mesothelioma are known as pleural, peritoneal, pericardial and testicular mesothelioma. while the majority of mesothelioma tumors are malignant, there are also noncancerous forms of the disease, known as benign mesotheliomas.
What is mesothelioma?
Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure in cells that develop in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the organs. developing the most common place is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall), but there is a possibility in the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity), the heart, the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart )or tunica vaginalis.
most of the people affected by mesothelioma are those who worked in a place that there are many asbestos particles, or they are often exposed to asbestos dust and fibers continuously.
mesothelioma is different from lung cancer that causes karna smoking, but smoking can also scaling up the risk of death because mesothelioma.
mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath because the pleura, and weight loss. can use to diagnose mesothelioma in the chest x-ray, CT scan, and a biopsy and microscopic examination.
Who Gets Mesothelioma?
People believed to be in the high risk category for getting mesothelioma are those who were exposed to asbestos on a regular basis (six months or more) while on the job. Among the list of occupations closely linked to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases are:
-Military veterans
-Construction workers
-Demolition or renovation crews
-Auto mechanics
-Insulators
-Shipyard workers
-Asbestos mine workers or millers
-Boiler workers
-Asbestos manufacturing plant workers
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