Pleural Mesothelioma,symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma,about Pleural Mesothelioma

It is caused by inhaling asbestos fibers into the lungs. It is the most common form of mesothelioma.Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the protective lining of the lung, known as the pleura

Pleural mesothelioma is hard to diagnose. In the early stages of the disease, symptoms tend to be mild, while in later stages (stage 3 or stage 4) symptoms can worsen significantly. Unfortunately, since it is often diagnosed at a later stage, mesothelioma usually has a poor prognosis – most patients live less than 17 months from the time that their first symptoms appear.

What is Pleural Mesothelioma?

Pleural mesothelioma is a rare and malignant cancer caused by asbestos. Mesothelioma tumors form in the pleura, a thin membrane of cells that line the lungs and chest wall.

Pleural mesothelioma develops in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. This type represents approximately 75 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Although symptoms may vary, the most common pleural mesothelioma symptoms include

symptoms of Pleural Mesothelioma

Shortness of breath
Persistent dry cough
Persistent chest pain
Difficulty swallowing
Night sweats / fever
Fatigue
Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
Pain in the lower back or rib area
Painful breathing
Persistent dry or raspy cough
Coughing up blood (hemoptysis)
Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
Pain in the lower back or rib area
Painful breathing

Symptoms: As the disease mostly affects the lungs, the primary symptoms affect the respiratory system, such as shortness of breath, or the thoracic cavity, such as chest pain

Survival: The prognosis for pleural mesothelioma is poor, with a median survival time of about 1 year. However, there are cases of long-term survival, in some cases as long as 20 years.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of asbestos-related cancer.

About 2,500 people are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma each year.

Standard treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation.

about Pleural Mesothelioma

Exposure to asbestos is the only scientifically verified cause of pleural mesothelioma.

Diagnosing pleural mesothelioma can be extremely difficult, since the symptoms may look like those of other diseases.

While prognosis is generally poor, early detection is the single best way to improve the chances of survival.

The most common treatment is a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy (i.e., multimodal therapy).

Diagnosis Technique

Pleural Mesothelioma

Chest X-rays are used to detect pleural effusions.
CT Scans help physicians detect evidence of asbestos exposure.
PET scans may reveal where the cancer has spread.
Thoracentesis allow doctors to sample pleural fluid.
Biopsies are used to collect pleural tissue samples.
It often takes weeks or even months before a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma is made. Also, because the disease’s long latency period, past exposure to asbestos often doesn’t come to mind when patients provide a medical history. Finally, a number of other lung and respiratory diseases have similar symptoms as pleural mesothelioma, making a correct diagnosis even more challenging.

Ultimately, a definitive diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma can be made only through a combination of imaging techniques and a study of the cell structure (histology) after taking a biopsy.