As a malignant tumor was first described in 1870.
Most mesotheliomas arise in the chest cavity and are called pleural mesotheliomas. In 10-20% of cases the tumor develops in the abdominal cavity - mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Mesothelioma of the pericardium (the heart bag) are very rare.
Etiology, causes of desease
Mesothelioma can occur at any age, even among children of 2-4 years. Men get sick more often than women in a ratio of 8:1.
In the mesothelioma etiology the primary essence is determined by the duration of exposure to asbestos and the erionite mineral used in construction practice. Smoking and being exposed to asbestos vapors increase the risk of falling sick by 50-90%. Genetic predisposition is also considered as an etiological factor.
Symptoms of mesothelioma
Tumor for a long time may be asymptomatic and therefore often detected in late stages, which negatively influences the prognosis of the disease.
Average survival is typically only 1-2 years.
Early symptoms of mesotheliomas are not specific. Patients often ignore or take them for normal manifestations of non-tumorous diseases. With most patients, mesothelioma symptoms appear within 2-3 months prior to the detection of tumors.
With some patients symptoms may persist for 6 months or longer. More than half of patients with pleural mesothelioma noted pain in the lower chest to the side or rear surface. In some cases shortness of breath, difficulties with swallowing, coughing, sweating, weakness, weight loss and fever may manifest. Almost all patients have pleuritis - a liquid in the pleural cavity. Also, other symptoms can manifest: voice hoarseness, coughing up blood, swelling of the face and upper extremities. Patients with peritoneum mesothelioma can feel abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss. Some patients may have liquid appeared in the abdomen (ascites) and/or a tumor.
Mesothelioma therapy/treatment
Surgical treatment of mesothelioma
The operation can be performed as a palliative or therapeutic purpose. The palliative operation means surgery, with which you can eliminate or reduce pain or discomfort caused by the growth of tumors - pleurectomy (removal of the pleura), thoracocentesis (pleural puncture and removal of liquid from the pleural cavity), etc. Such operations are used in the inability to remove the tumor because of the prevalence of the process or the serious condition of the patient. Patients in a satisfactory condition, with a localized tumor, undergo radical surgery, i.e. complete removal of mesothelioma.
Radiation therapy of mesothelioma
External irradiation is used with mesothelioma most often. When an internal irradiation of the radioactive material is fed directly to the tumor. This type of radiation therapy is used as the primary method of treatment for patients in serious condition, when they can not endure a serious operation. Auxiliary radiation therapy is prescribed after non-radical operation to destroy the remaining tumor cells.
Palliative irradiation is used to relieve symptoms caused by tumor growth: breathlessness, pain, bleeding and difficulties at swallowing. Radiation therapy reduces the pain, but does not increase life expectancy (increasing the dose, as well as the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy does not increase the survival rate).
Chemotherapy of mesothelioma
When treating patients with malignant mesothelioma, chemotherapeutic compounds may be introduced not only intravenously, but intrapleurally and intraperitoneally (into the abdominal cavity). Depending on the stage of tumor chemotherapy can be both basic and auxiliary method of treatment. Moreover, chemotherapy is used only as a palliative mean producing only a temporary effect.
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