Epithelial Mesothelioma Cancer
Epithelial mesothelioma is a type of cancer. It is nearly always found in individuals who were exposed to the mineral asbestos at some point earlier in their lives - usually decades earlier. The term “epithelial mesothelioma” is also a way to classify a case of mesothelioma cancer by the cell type (as opposed to the location of the cancer in the body). For instance, mesothelioma cancer can be:
- epithelial (involving the cells that line the body's internal and external surfaces)
- sarcomatoid (referring to a cell type in connective tissue)
- mixed (both epithelial and sarcomatoid)
A diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer may also use the location term: in the lungs (pleural mesothelioma), the heart (pericardial mesothelioma), or the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma). Epithelial mesothelioma can be in any of these locations.
Epithelial Pleural Mesothelioma Cancer
The most common form of epithelial mesothelioma is pleural; the second most common is peritoneal, and the rarest is pericardial. Essentially all cases of epithelial mesothelioma are caused by asbestos inhalation or other asbestos exposure .
Symptoms of Epithelial Mesothelioma Cancer
The earliest symptoms of epithelial mesothelioma are rather subtle. The symptoms are also general in that they could be interpreted as indicating any one of a large number of diseases or maladies. The symptoms include:
- chest pain
- abdominal pain
- shortness of breath
Epithelial Mesothelioma Treatment
Without treatment, the symptoms invariably progress. If the epithelial mesothelioma is detected early and treated, the chances of success are higher, but as with all types of mesothelioma cancer, there is no cure for epithelial mesothelioma.
A palliative treatment may be chosen. Palliative treatment is intended to relieve the symptoms and pain. If the cancer has not progressed too far, a localized treatment option such as surgery may be appropriate. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may also be considered. Surgery combined with radiation therapy is sometimes attempted.
For more aggressive treatment, a procedure called extrapleural pneumonectomy may help: this procedure involves the removal of the pleura, pericardium, diaphragm, and the lung that's on the side of the mesothelioma tissue.
Find Out More about Epithelial Mesothelioma Cancer
A diagnosis of epithelial mesothelioma can be overwhelming. Learn all that you can about the diagnosis; contact mesothelioma center for assistance.
Epithelial Mesothelioma (english) / Mesotelioma Epitelial (spanish)
