pet ct mesothelioma
Pleural Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer that attacks the mesothelial cells of the pleura, a membrane covering the lungs and lines the chest cavity. Accounts pleural mesothelioma from about 75% of cases of mesothelioma. Pleural Mesothelioma is most common unilateral (affecting only one side of the chest cavity) and occurs more commonly in men aged 60-80 years old with a history of previous asbestos exposure, sometimes decades before diagnosis.
When you start pleural mesothelioma, appears as a series of small white nodules that become diffuse, or generalized on the pleural surface. Gradually, these nodes begin to grow together and thicken, forming a "shell" that covers the lung and extends into the fissures or grooves of the pleura and diaphragm. The tumor spreads by direct invasion of surrounding tissue, compressing the lung internally, and externally invading the chest wall and ribs.
Symptoms
The first symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are not, as a rule specific enough to cause alarm, and in most cases were attributed to increased age or overwork. Because of this, may be several months from the onset of generalized symptoms until the first symptoms acute pleural effusion occurs. At that time, progressive respiratory distress caused by the spill, and chest pain caused by the invasion of the chest wall can be in testing. More general symptoms include dry cough, fatigue, night sweats and weight loss.
Diagnosis
Initial examination by a physician, 80% to 95% of patients have pleural effusion on X-rays, the remainder showing little or no liquid. At first, the liquid flows freely, and is similar in appearance to that seen in other benign causes or congestive heart failure, and because of this, these other possibilities are the first to be discarded in the diagnostic process. Later, the spill becomes "loculated, or contained within a limit in the pleural space, where the fluid not moving.
CT scans are more definitive, and can show not only the spill, but the presence of pleural masses, and the size of lymph nodes identified; MRI is more sensitive in determining chest wall invasion and spread of disease through the diaphragm, PET can assist in the staging of the disease for surgical resection can be discarded by extension to the contralateral (opposite) lung or other distant sites.
Analysis of pleural fluid yields a diagnosis confirmed by a relatively small percentage of patients, and biopsy needle offers only slightly better results. Today, the procedure of choice is the VATS (video-assisted thoracoscopy) procedure, which has a diagnostic yield of 95%, allows biopsy and pleural fluid drainage and pleurodesis. VATS also ensures adequate tissue samples to facilitate a definitive diagnosis.
Staging
As with any type of cancer, staging plays a role in what treatment options a patient may be eligible. Several staging systems are in use, however, the most used and most complete is the TNM system associated with the International Mesothelioma Interest Group.
Treatment
On the basis of various factors, various treatment options may be available, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation (or combinations of the three, known as trimodal therapy), clinical trials, gene therapy, immunotherapy and so surgery is used to remove the tumor more as possible and chemotherapy or radiation and is used to eliminate remaining cancer cells. Once the diagnosis is made, it is important that all options possible case is examined by doctors with the patient and his family. Although pleural mesothelioma remains a difficult cancer to treat, more aware of the disease, new and better diagnostics, and more successful treatment regimens will help to improve prognosis.
Patients should be informed about different types of mesothelioma treatment options, and reach for remedies to deal with a mesothelioma diagnosis easier.
About the Author:
Bello kamorudeen.For more information on mesothelioma and mesothelioma types visit http://www.mesotheliomacorner.blogspot.com
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Pleural Mesothelioma- Basic facts for you to know
