Overview & Research Study of Malignant Mesothelioma - Cancer of the Mesothelium

Malignant Mesothelioma is layers of neoplasms or tumors that exist in the Pleural or Peritoneal surfaces of the lungs. Malignant mesothelioma is usually linked to occupational or environmental exposure to Asbestos and Asbestos containing products. Malignant mesothelioma occurs when cells of the Mesothelium become abnormal and spread or divide themselves without control or order. The mesothelium is a membrane that forms linings of several body cavities such as the Pleura and Peritoneum. What's so risky about the mesothelium cells spreading and diving without control is that they can easily spread to nearby organs and tissues, and make those organs Cancerous or malignant. Malignant cells can also spread to nearby lungs, thereby causing malignant lung mesothelioma cancer. The function of the mesothelium in the body is to produce a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to rub smoothly against each other and glide, as well as perform their functions. The membrane surrounding the chest is called the Pleura, and the membrane encapsulating the Abdomen is known as the Peritoneum. The membrane surrounding the sac-like space around the heart is known as the Pericardium or Pericardial cavity.

Frequency of Malignant Mesothelioma

Every 1.1 people out of 100,000 in the United States is diagnosed with Mesothelioma lung cancer each year. High concentrations of diagnosis occur in the Pacific to mid-Atlantic states such as Alaska, California, Oregon & Washington. Alaska for instance houses a large # of shipbuilding factories such as Fort Richardson of the US Army. Other common facilities in Alaska that can easily exposed workers to Asbestos include paper mills & oil refineries such as Union Oil Company, BP Oil - North Slope Location, Alaska Steam Compressor Plant, etc.

Types of Malignant Mesothelioma

i) Epithelioid - Between half to 70% of all cases of Malignant mesothelioma are of the Epithelioid type. Epithelioid mesothelioma occurs in the Epithelium (protective layer of tissue) that encapsulates certain organs within the body. Some of these organs include all free open surfaces of the body e.g skin, mucous membranes, intestines, esophagus and uterus.

ii) Sarcomatoid - Sarcomatoid accounts for 8% - 32% of all Malignant mesothelioma cases and originates from Sarcoma which is a form of cancer that is derived from tumors forming in supportive organs of the body including bones, muscles, fats and cartilage.

iii) Biphasic - The other 10% - 32% of all malignant mesothelioma cases are of the Biphasic type. Biphasic malignancy is a combination of Epithelioid & Sarcomatoid mesothelioma because it incorporates tumorous cells from both the Epithelium and supportive organs of the body (which are responsible for the formation of Sarcoma).

Symptoms of Malignant Mesothelioma

Symptoms of malignant mesothelioma generally do not appear until 15 - 50 years after initial exposure to Asbestos due to a long latency period. Since symptoms of malignant mesothelioma are very similar to symptoms of other less serious diseases such as excessive coughing, shortness of breath, nausea, back pain or even chest pain, doing an accurate diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma is very difficult for medical doctors. Often, most patients who are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have already advanced their stages of Cancer to higher levels.

List of Common Symptoms of Malignant Mesothelioma

- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Hemoptysis (coughing up blood)
- Loss of appetite, weight loss
- Cough and fever
- Dysphagia (difficulty swallowing food)
- Pleural effusions (fluid buildup in the abdomen)
- Swelling of the face and arms
- Sensory loss
- Nausea
- Back pain

Examination & Diagnosis Methods for Malignant Mesothelioma

i) Chest Radiography: The first screening method for malignant mesothelioma is Chest radiography. Chest Radiography is a radiograph projection of the chest that shows structures of the bones, ribs and lungs. Chest radiographs use ionizing radiation (subatomic particles that are strong enough to detect electrons from particle molecules) to capture images of the chest.

ii) Computed Tomography (CT) - Computed Tomography (CT) scans are used to stage the malignant mesothelioma tumor in to stages ranging from Stage I to Stage V. The staging systems used are Brigham System, Butchart System and the TNM system. They help in determining primary locations of the tumors, their sizes, whether tumor has spread to nearby lymph nodes, as well as Metastasis or Spread of Cancer tumor.

iii) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - MRI scans are very popular among medical doctors because they use non-ionizing radio frequency (RF) signals to output images of the chest thus providing greater contrast between different tissues of the body and making it easier to detect tumor cells.

iv) Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - PET scans look for changes in chemical activities within certain organs of the body including the lungs, chest and nearby tissues. Changing chemical activities can help locate the metastasis (spread) and location of particular tumors.

Who Can Develop Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is developed in a human's body after inhaling asbestos particles on the job or through exposure to asbestos dust and fibre. Exposure to asbestos dust and fibres can occur for example when a wife washes her husband's clothes who has worked with asbestos. Exposure to asbestos dust and fibres can also occur through home renovations conducted using asbestos cement and related products. Mesothelioma is rarely developed by young people, and it has no relation with smoking, despite of rumours about this. Infact, Mesothelioma can take over 40 years to develop, before full diagnosis is realized! Groups of people at high risk of developing mesothelioma are people who have worked in the following jobs:

a) Insulators or labourers who have worked around Asbestos Insulation in public schools and buildings including asbestos pipe coverings, lagging, asbestos-containing cement & block insulation.

b) Shipbuilders who have worked around boilers, steam pipes, asbestos insulation and in boiler rooms in ships.

c) Construction labourers who have worked around joint compounds, fireproofing insulation, plaster & patching compounds. Other related professions include plumbers & pipefitters working around laden cement pipes, pipe coverings & asbestos insulation in buildings.

d) Miners or mine laborers working around Talc and Vermiculite Asbestos are at increased risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.

e) Automobile mechanics who work around brake pads, brake shoes, clutch discs and linings are at risk of asbestos exposure and subsequent development of malignant mesothelioma. When auto mechanics disassemble brakes and do their labour, there's a high chance asbestos fibers could spread in to the air (become airborne).

f) Railroad labourers who work around steam & diesel locomotives and trains can easily become exposed to Asbestos due to heat resistant properties of asbestos insulation. Asbestos insulation was commonly used around hot water lines, boilers, steam pipes and refregiration units.

Malignant Mesothelioma Resources

>> Cancer Reference Information Center
Provides in depth information on various lung cancers, risk factors, prevention & causes, treatment options & tools, glossary and cancer drug guide.

>> Medline Plus Medical Encyclopaedia
Encyclopaedia of health topics including listing of A-Z diseases, health topics covering body locations/systems, disorders & conditions, diagnosis & therapy, health and wellness and other topics.

>> National Cancer Institute
Provides very useful Cancer statistics, comprehensive clinical trials information, latest cancer news, research & funding sources, publications on types of cancer, nutrition, coping strategies, testing and tobacco/smoking related topics.