Pleural Mesothelioma

A mesothelioma is a tumor of mesothelial cells which generally occurs in the pleura (rarely a mesothelioma may occur in the peritoneum or other organs). Pleura (PLOOR-a), a thin layer of tissue covering the lungs and lining the interior wall of the chest cavity.

It protects and cushions the lungs. This tissue secretes a small amount of fluid that acts as a lubricant, allowing the lungs to move smoothly in the chest cavity while breathing. When pleural mesothelioma cancer spreads, the cells of the mesothelium become abnormal.

The National Institute of Cancer has been conducting research with asbestos as the overwhelming risk factor for pleural mesothelioma. The more exposure to asbestos, and the longer the duration of exposure, the great the chance of pleural mesothelioma cancer. The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, including pleural mesothelioma, varies with the type of industry in which the exposure occurred and with the extent of the exposure. Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a very lethal disease and little is known about prognostic factors.

Pleural Mesothelioma Treatment

Surgery is a common pleural mesothelioma treatment. The doctor may remove part of the lining of the chest or abdomen and some of the tissue around it. For cancer of the pleura (pleural mesothelioma), a lung may be removed in an operation called a pneumonectomy. Sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed. While pleural mesothelioma treatment techniques and practices continue to evolve, this pleural mesothelioma remains a disease that is uniformly fatal and unquestionably associated with exposure to asbestos.

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