Mesothelioma

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lung and chest cavity, which is known as the pleura. Approximately 75% of all diagnosed mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma, making it the most common type of mesothelioma. Like all types of mesothelioma cancer, pleural mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. It develops when asbestos fibers work their way into the passageways of the lungs and then into the pleura. When these jagged particles settle in the pleura, they cause inflammation, which can lead to cancerous tumors.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, or any other form of asbestos cancer, fill out our free case evaluation form to hear from a mesothelioma lawyer.

In its early stages, pleural mesothelioma appears as a series of small nodules that are spread out across the pleural surface. Over time, these nodules grow together and thicken, encasing the lung and extending into the fissures of the pleura and the diaphragm. The tumor spreads by direct invasion of surrounding tissue. It inwardly compresses the lung and outwardly invades the chest wall and ribs. In the advanced stages of pleural mesothelioma, the cancer may spread to other nearby organs, such as the heart, abdomen, and lymph nodes.

Symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Asbestos fibers cause cancerous cells to divide abnormally, which causes thickening of the pleural membrane layers and mesothelial cells. The buildup of fluid between the parietal pleura (lining of the chest) and the visceral pleura (lining of the lungs) is called a pleural effusion. When the fluid puts pressure on the lungs and the respiratory system, it can interfere with normal breathing and cause the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Persistent dry cough
• Coughing up blood
• Night sweats

In many cases, these early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are not specific enough to cause alarm. They are often are attributed to increasing age or overwork. If you know you have a history of asbestos exposure, it is advisable to be proactive regarding your health care choices and observant of potential symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.

Diagnosis

Pleural mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose because the symptoms often do not occur until some time after the initial asbestos exposure takes place. Your doctor's first step in diagnosing pleural mesothelioma will probably be a conducting a physical exam and patient history. The second step is usually an x-ray of the chest. Pleural effusions, masses, and scarring may show up on x-rays. If there is an abnormal finding on the x-ray, the third step will probably be further imaging through a CT scan, CAT scan, PET scan, or MRI. These results provide your doctor with vital information about the size, location, and invasiveness of the mass. Next, thoracentesis and/or a biopsy will be performed on the mass. Thoracentesis is a minimally invasive procedure in which fluid is removed from the pleural space. The collected fluid and/or biopsy tissue will then be sent for analysis by specialists who will look for signs of cancerous cells. If these procedures do not result in a definitive diagnosis, more invasive testing may be required.

Treatment

Once a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is reached, it is important that all possible treatment options are discussed by the doctors, the patient and their family members. Several treatment options are available for pleural mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Multimodal treatments include all three of these options and may work well for patients in the early stage of pleural mesothelioma who are otherwise healthy. Unfortunately, pleural mesothelioma remains a difficult cancer to treat. In many cases, treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms, rather than curing the disease. However, new treatment options are currently being tested in clinical trials throughout the country in an effort to find better, more effective ways to treat this disease.