Pleural Mesotheloma-Facts You Should Know
Mesothelioma is most common primary tumors are the two main pleura.There types;
1],localized mesothelioma (benign and malignant types) 2],diffuse Malignant Mesothelioma
Causes
There is a strong correlation between exposure to asbestos and developing mesothelioma,although the history of exposure is not always obtained in patients who have mesothelioma.There there are 2 types of asbestos fibers on the crystal structure,serpentine () chrysotile and amphibole-b.
Included in the amphibole amosite,tremolo,crocidolite anthophyllite.The and the worst is better known as crocidolite or blue asbestos.
Localized Mesothelioma Bening
These properties come the inner layers of the pleura
Symptoms;
chest pain,shortness of breath most of the time there are no symptoms () Asymptomatic,these tumors are usually found on routine chest x-ray-hypoglycemia () blood sugar treatment is sometimes associated
Surgery is the primary means of treatment is the surgeon removes the tumor and recurrence is rare and occurs when the transition form of malignant tumor is suspected.
Localized malignant mesothelioma
Symptoms and signs;
For chest pain,cough,fever,shortness of breath
Treatment
Surgery is the treatment of choice,even though the prognosis is very poor
Diffuse malignant mesothelioma
This type of mesothelioma may also occur as part of the pleura and often extend into the peritoneal cavity and the ribs and chest wall (Peritoneal Mesothelioma and Pericardial Mesothelioma). He also generally extends to the liver,brain and adrenal malignant glands.Histologically mesothelioma have both fibrillar () and epithelial sarcomatous mesothelioma () papillary component.
Abnormal
CT-scan of the chest,is very useful in diagnosing the extent of the tumor. biopsy needle (the surgeon inserts a special needle to collect the pleura laboratory samples of the tumor is visible under a microscope) of the pleura is necessary.
Pleural fluid is sucked and transported to the laboratory for microscopic examination.
Staging of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
-Stage 1:Involvement of the pleura and the lung ipsilateral (to only the left lung or right lung)
-Phase 2,involving the chest wall,mediastinum (middle of the structure of the heart),pericardial or contralateral () Opposite pleura
spread of blood-stage 3-Distant in other organs such as brain,adrenals
Treatment
Treatment is notoriously inefficient and rarely survive more than 2 years with an average of 10-14 months.In some cases,phase 1,Suger pleuropneumonectomy radical (removal of the lungs and pleura) may be effective,but long-term survival is radiation rare.Primary can also be used. Combination chemotherapy using either alone,or combinations of these protocols were also used,but the result is still poor.