Pleural Mesothelioma
Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a variety of the illness that originates in the mesothelium of the lung. The mesothelium is a thin lining of tissue that lubricates the lung as it expands and contracts within the chest cavity. It allows the organ to move freely within surrounding organs. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma.
The only recognized cause of malignant pleural mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos fibers. Asbestos is a material used extensively in a number of industries prior to its federal ban in 1980. Its most common purpose was to insulate materials and prevent heat transfer. Because this is a common requirement in many industries, its applications were diverse and widespread. Pleural mesothelioma is caused by inhalation of asbestos particles.
When foreign substances are introduced into the body, the body will typically expel these particles by normal bodily functions of either chemical breakdown or other discharge. Asbestos is an especially durable fiber that is resistant to these breakdown functions. The structure of asbestos also makes it difficult to expel, as it is a pin-like fiber that becomes lodged in the porous tissue of the lung when inhaled. From the lung tissue it will affect the mesothelium. The constant presence of foreign particles will cause a chronic inflammation in the thin lining. This inflammation will eventually lead to damaging scar tissue and the development of a tumor.
Treatment of pleural mesothelioma can include any of the following methods, surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy. Curative treatment does not exist for malignant pleural mesothelioma and any treatment administered is usually done so to make the patient as comfortable as possible. Like many forms of lung cancer, prognoses are generally poor. Complicated surgical procedures are usually overruled by less hazardous treatment regimens. While diagnosis based on symptoms is rare, some signs of pleural mesothelioma include difficulty breathing, coughing blood, or chest pains.