Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare form of mesothelioma in
which tumors form in the pericardium, a membrane of the heart.
Most, if not all, cases of pericardial mesothelioma are
thought to occur due to asbestos exposure.
Development Of Pericardial Mesothelioma
Many patients with pericardial mesothelioma have been exposed
to asbestos in their homes or as part of their occupations,
but because of the rarity of the disease, physicians aren't
sure of exactly how the disease develops and progresses.
Asbestos is an insulation and building material composed of
tiny shard-like fibers. Most cases of mesothelioma occur in
patients who regularly breathe these fibers. The fibers
typically become lodged in the mesothelium of the lungs, where
they can cause tumors to develop.
Pericardial mesothelioma is thought to develop when asbestos
fibers make their way into the bloodstream and make their way
to the heart, where they lodge in the pericardium. Malignant
tumors then develop, sometimes over the course of many years.
There have been fewer than 200 cases of pericardial
mesothelioma. Many of these cases are thought to have taken a
decade or more to develop, and it's considered to be the
rarest form of mesothelioma as well as one of the rarest types
of cancer.
Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma
Most pericardial mesothelioma patients don't notice symptoms
until the later stages of the disease or mistake early
symptoms as signs of another type of heart condition. The
extreme rarity of pericardial mesothelioma can also make it
difficult to diagnose.
Common symptoms include chest pain, fatigue, heart murmurs and
respiratory issues. To separate pericardial mesothelioma from
other conditions and to ensure an accurate diagnosis,
physicians will often recommend an MRI. The MRI can show the
extent of the disease and allow the physician to make
treatment recommendations.
Treating Pericardial Mesothelioma
Unfortunately, pericardial mesothelioma usually has a poor
prognosis. This is partially due to the rarity of the disease
and partially due to the fact that it tends to be diagnosed in
a late stage. Over half of patients with pericardial
mesothelioma die within the first half year after a diagnosis.
Most pericardial mesothelioma treatments are designed to
improve the patient's quality of life. Fluids may build in the
pericardium, and by draining these tissues, patient symptoms
can markedly improve for several weeks or months.
Early-stage pericardial mesothelioma may be treated with
surgery and radiation therapy, but treatment is very
difficult, as the patient's heart and other vital organs can't
be exposed to excessive amounts of radiation. As mentioned
earlier, early detection is also very difficult, so treatment
techniques are hardly well-developed.
Mesothelioma Patient Rights
As pericardial mesothelioma is thought to be caused by
asbestos exposure, patients and family members of patients
with the disease have the right to seek restitution for the
cost of treatment and for pain and suffering, especially when
a patient worked in ship building or a similar industry with
widespread asbestos use.
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