Pleural Mesothelioma

Understanding pleural disease

The most common form of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma, invades cells in the lining of the lungs and ribs (the pleura).  Pleural mesothelioma causes the pleura to thicken.  As the pleura gets thicker, it crowds the lungs, leaving them less space to function and making breathing difficult.

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Many victims contract the disease by breathing in asbestos fibers, which become lodged in the pleura and then lie dormant before causing pleural mesothelioma decades after ingestion.

Pleural mesothelioma symptoms can be difficult to distinguish from other illnesses.  As a result, pleural mesothelioma is often not detected and diagnosed until it is very advanced and has spread to other areas. Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include:

Persistent coughing Difficulty swallowing Facial swelling Weight loss Fever

Rasping Coughing up blood Shortness of breath, both when active and when at rest Pain in chest or ribs

Treating mesothelioma in the pleura

The outcome of diagnostic tests generally determines which treatments are appropriate in a particular case of pleural mesothelioma.  Experienced physicians accustomed to seeing and treating mesothelioma are the most effective at treating pleural mesothelioma.

Treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.  Surgeons and oncologists treating mesothelioma in the pleura aim to remove or to stop the spread of the cancerous tissues.  Other medical professionals focus on comfort issues, such as relieving pressure by draining the excess fluids that accumulate around the patient’s lungs.

Benign pleural disease

Although the malignant pleural mesothelioma rate is much higher than other types of mesothelioma, sometimes a single, non-cancerous tumor will develop in the pleura.  When the tumor is removed completely, the prognosis is excellent.