Pericardial Mesothelioma
Malignant pericardial mesothelioma refers to a sub-classification of mesothelioma which occurs in the pericardium of the heart. Pericardial mesothelioma also represents the rarest form of this variety of cancer. The pericardium is a thin lining of tissue that surrounds the heart, allowing for lubrication of the natural expansions and contractions of the heart. This allows the heart to move more freely within the chest cavity. Obstructions or cancers, such as pericardial mesothelioma, in this region can affect the natural movements of the body's internal organs.
Pericardial mesothelioma's only known cause is exposure to asbestos. While there have been cases in which a patient's history has not included a known asbestos exposure, it still remains common in most patients. The causal relationship between exposures and other forms or mesothelioma validates the connection further. While it is not entirely lucid as to how the asbestos particle affects the pericardium, research has confirmed it is likely through the bloodstream. When inhaled, microscopic asbestos fibers become absorbed into newly oxygenated blood, reaching the heart through the circulatory process. It is at this point when the fibers become lodged in the pericardium. Scar tissue as a result of persistent inflammation leads to the growth of the cancer.
Pericardial mesothelioma has no cure and treatment options can be limited. Treatment for pericardial mesothelioma can be complicated by the stage and severity of the cancer. Surgery is regularly ruled out immediately. Surgical procedures would likely be conducted within direct obstruction of the heart, typically leaving surgery off the table for less risky treatments. Usually, the disease will be treated with a combination of chemotherapy and radiation, attempting to make the patient more comfortable and less susceptible to side effects.
Prognoses, like all forms of mesothelioma, are generally regarded as poor in terms of two-year survival rates. Most treatments administered will help to make the pain and discomfort of the disease more manageable. Those who work or have worked with asbestos should be aware of the possibility of developing mesothelioma in some form, particularly if appropriate safety precautions were not undertaken.