By Rick Ferring
Mesothelioma, a rare form of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, is typically broken into two types – benign and malignant. The asbestos, when disturbed, releases particles into the air, which are then swallowed or inhaled. Once inside the body, these foreign bodies become embedded in the soft tissue lining in the body. Where these particles become large, helps to determine the type of mesothelioma that has or could develop. But with any type of tumors, it’s important to first understand if it is benign or malignant.
Benign mesothelioma is a noncancerous tumor of the pleura (the lining of the lung and chest cavity). This nonmalignant mesothelioma is usually a tumor concentrated in one spot and affects men more than women. The tumor can grow large enough that it compresses the lung, causing shortness of breath.
Malignant mesothelioma is a cancerous tumor of the pleura or peritoneum (lining of the abdomen) or pericardium (sac surrounding the heart) and is almost always caused by sustained exposure to asbestos. This type of mesothelioma is a widespreading tumor that also affects men more frequently than women. It’s the prolonged exposure to asbestos that appears to be the predominant risk factor.
Malignant mesothelioma is then divided into 3 main categories and further divided once again into 3 subcategories. The three main categories are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma.
Pleural mesothelioma type grows in the tissues covering the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma spreads within the chest city, sometimes it involves the lung. Approximately 70 - 80% of mesothelioma cases are pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the tissues lining the inside of the abdomen. It can involve the abdominal cavity, liver, spleen or the bowel. Pain is the most common complaint and because of the fluid accumulation, the abdomen often appears swollen. This type of mesothelioma is only found in approximately 10 – 20% of the diagnosed cases. The third main type is pericardial mesothelioma, which grows within the heart and the sac enclosing the heart. This is the rarest of the three and only accounts for 5 –10% of the mesothelioma cases.
Within the three main categories, there are three main sub types that are sorted by how the cells look under a microscope. The three sub types are epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma.
About 50 to 70% of mesothelioma cases are of the epithelioid mesothelioma type. About 7 – 20% of mesothelioma cases are of the sarcomatoid mesothelioma type. And about 20 – 35 % of mesothelioma cases are of the biphasic mesothelioma type.
In order to correctly diagnose and start treatment, physicians need to order tests done to confirm just what type of mesothelioma a person may have.
About Rick Ferring
Rick has been writing about health related topics for over 12 years. He specializes in mesothelioma and asbestos related ailments.
Article Source: http://www.articlefeeder.com/Health_and_Fitness/Mesothelioma__Benign_or_Malignant.html
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