Medical Perspective – What Is Mesothelioma?

lung cancer

Many people who do not know, what is mesothelioma? Therefore, in this article will explains about what is mesothelioma.

A lot of peoples be afraid when hear about mesothelioma, because mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure asbestos and it’s more dangerous for people.

Malignant cells develop in the mesothelium.  The mesothelium is a protective lining that covers most of the human body’s internal organs. The most common location is the pleura which is the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall.   Mesothelioma can also occur in the peritoneum which is the lining of the abdominal cavity, the pericardium which is a sac that surrounds the heart, or in the heart itself.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be benign or they can be cancer. A cancer tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma, but this is often shortened to just mesothelioma.

The information that follows cover only those mesotheliomas that are cancer.

Main types of mesothelioma

There are four main types of mesotheliomas based on how the cells look under a microscope.

• Epithelioid: This is the most common type. It tends to have a better outlook (prognosis) than the other types.Sarcomatoid (fibrous): About 1 to 2 out of 10 mesotheliomas are of this type.
• Mixed (biphasic): This type has features of the 2 types above. About 3 to 4 out of 10 mesotheliomas are the mixed type.
• Desmoplastic: These are rare.

About 3 out of 4 mesotheliomas start in the chest cavity. These are called pleural mesotheliomas. Another 10%-20% begin in the abdomen (belly). These are called peritoneal mesotheliomas. Those starting around the heart are rare. This cancer can also start in the tissue around the testicles, but this is also very rare.

Also, check out my other guide on what is mesothelioma cancer and mesothelioma

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