Mesothelioma (cancer of the mesothelium) is a rare form of cancer, in which malignant (cancerous) cells found in the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order.They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body. Most cases of mesothelioma begin in the pleura or peritoneum. Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.
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Though most of the physicians know very well about the mesothelioma symptoms, diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult. The main ambiguous fact in diagnosing a mesothelioma cancer is nothing but the symptoms resemble those of other conditions. Another reason is that the adverse affects of exposure to asbestos does not usually show up for many years
...The mesothelioma may develop as four or five stages as the following.
* Stage 1a mesothelioma affects the outer layer of the pleura around the chest wall, on one side of the chest only. It may have grown in the pleural tissue covering the diaphragm
...A more modern treatment strategy for diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma may be suggested. clinical suspicion of diffuse malignant mesothelioma (peritoneal carcinomatosis) calls for laparoscopy with evaluation of parietal and visceral peritoneum and multiple biopsies sufficient for definitive histologic diagnosis. cytologic examination of ascitic fluid is not likely to be of benefit. ct of chest, abdomen, and pelvis is needed for evaluation of visceral involvement and the presence of distant metastases. contrast enhancement of the gastrointestinal and urinary tract is necessary with the ct. additional radiologic techniques for detection of distant metastases should be used if there are clinical or laboratory signs of extraperitoneal spread. after histologic diagnosis and extent of tumor spread have been documented, and if no symptoms of intestinal obstruction are present, the patient may be subjected to two to three courses of induction intraperitoneal chemotherapy. this will provide the clinician with important information on tumor response to chemotherapy, minimize tumor accumulation on bowel surfaces, and provide time for surgical conditioning. the time devoted to induction chemotherapy will allow occult distant metastases to be detected. in patients with a response or stable disease, cytoreductive surgery is attempted approximately 2 months after completion of induction chemotherapy. surgery must be aimed at achieving complete or near-complete cytoreduction through the use of peritonectomy procedures. additional intraperitoneal chemotherapy should be administered intraoperatively and in the early postoperative period. this treatment strategy may be the most feasible one according to existing knowledge of the natural history of diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. only further phase ii clinical trials can reveal the extent to which it is beneficial. because of the rare occurrence of this disease, the quickest answer would come as a result of cooperative study by several groups experienced in these treatment modalities
...Treatment for mesothelioma depends on the stage of the disease, the location of the cancer, and the patient's age and general health. Standard treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Sometimes, these treatments are combined.
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