 Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos.
A person afflicted with this disease may develop malignant cells in the mesothelium – the protective lining that covers the body’s internal organs.
Usually, these malignant cells build up in the pleura, or the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall. In other instances, these cells develop in the heart, the peritoneum, pericardium and tunica vaginalis.
The most common causes of the mesothelioma are the inhalation of, and exposure to asbestos. Other exposures like washing the clothes of the person who worked with asbestos are also at risk at developing the mesothelioma. Although there is no direct link between smoking and mesothelioma, smoking, however, significantly increases the risk of asbestos-related and lung diseases, including mesothelioma. Most studies reveal a “synergistic effect” between asbestos exposure and cigarette smoking. Thus, a smoker faces a higher risk of getting lung cancer if he is also exposed to asbestos.
General symptoms of mesothelioma include, among others, the shortness of breath, chest pains and weight loss. The most common symptoms, however, are pleural effusion and visceral pleura.
Under normal circumstances, the mesothelial cells in the thoracal and abdominal cavities, as well as in the heart sac, produce fluids that lubricate the chest wall and the lungs. The blood and lymph vessels absorb any excess fluids that are produced. When too much fluid are produced and accumulated by these membranes, the result would be effusion.
Pleural effusion involves the accumulation of fluids in the pleura covering the diaphragm and the chest wall, while the visceral pleura involve fluids in the pleura covering the lungs.
 Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma also include fever and night sweats.
As for peritoneal mesothelioma, symptoms may involve pain or swelling in the abdomen caused by the build-up of fluid, anemia, nausea, bowel obstruction and swelling of the feet. These symptoms may also extend to pain and swelling of the neck and face, as well as difficulty in swallowing, if the cancer has spread to the other parts of the body. In severe instances, a person afflicted with mesothelioma may have tumor masses, or may experience the collapse of the lung.
These symptoms, however, may not appear until 20 to 50 years following the exposure to asbestos.
The difficulty lies in diagnosing mesothelioma since its symptoms are similar to other conditions like tuberculosis or heart failure. However, a series of physical examination followed with a simple chest X-ray can help detect any pleural thickening, or if any excess fluid is present. Using a special X-ray technique called the lateral decubitus film, doctors can detect smaller effusions.
Abnormality in the cells may be discovered by cytology if the fluid is aspirated. On the other hand, for pleural fluid, this may be done through chest drain or pleural tap, in ascites with an ascetic drain or paracentesis; or with pericardiocentesis in a pericardial effusion.
The doctor may also perform a laparoscopy if the cancer is in the abdomen. This is done by making an incision in the abdomen and insert special instruments into the cavity to obtain tissue samples for examination. However, an extensive diagnostic surgery may be called for to obtain further tissue samples.
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