mesothelioma dictionary
Thursday, December 25th, 2008If you look in a medical dictionary is written that a disease that affects the lining of the lungs or lung pleura is called pleural mesothelioma. Many times you can hear Doctors describe this type of mesothelioma, cancer of the pleura. A fairly widespread misunderstanding of pleural mesothelioma is a form of primary lung cancer and this is not the case.
Indeed, pleural mesothelioma affects the serous membranes of the lungs and therefore the cancer is installed in these membranes lining a number of organs around the middle area of the body – including the lungs. What is common about this type of cancer is that the serous membranes of the lungs are most affected and when this happens, someone is said to pleural mesothelioma.
This is common to hear the term asbestos-related cancer lung. To be scientifically accurate this is a misnomer because mesothelioma is not in the lungs – originates in the lining or membrane surrounding the lungs. A common misunderstanding is made with a diagnosis called asbestosis, which is a type of asbestos lung disease that originates in the lungs so it is not surprising he is mistaken for mesothelioma.
As mentioned above, the serous membrane may be affected in different organs of the lungs and when that happens in the abdomen, the disease is called peritoneal mesothelioma. Pericardial Mesothelioma is another disease caused when the serous membrane that surrounds the heart is cancerous. The term Secondary lung cancer is used to describe the situation when the mesothelioma has spread to the membranes or lining surrounding the lungs, abdomen or heart organs to the lung itself.
Reading about pleural mesothelioma, you'll find another name or description of which is lung cancer from asbestos. Again, this is technically inaccurate as pleural mesothelioma originates in the lungs, but the membrane envelope of the lung. Research indicates that 75% of the Mesothelioma cancers are the cases of pleural mesothelioma.
The opportunity for pleural mesothelioma to develop is created by the inhalation of asbestos fibers that take roots, so to speak in the pleura or lining of the lungs. Because the fibers stay embedded in the membrane to begin creating a situation of chronic inflammation longest development cancer cells and tumors. In some situations this may also lead to asbestosis.
The presentation more Common pleural mesothelioma cancer is seen as tumor growths of the pleura that affect what is called the parietal surface (inside, near the lungs) and the visceral surface (outside away from the lungs). It is more common to find that the involvement of visceral parietal surface.
The data indicate a slightly higher incidence of mesothelioma in the right lung than the left and it is believed that this is the result of the inherent larger right lung. There are also data showing that lower lungs have more growth in higher lung tumors. The theory explaining this is related to the severity and there is a greater potential for asbestos fibers to settle lower in the lungs.
Unfortunately, mesothelioma is a disease that can take decades to be discovered so because This long latent period, by the time a patient is diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, tumor growths are quite large. Due to the advanced development and size of these tumors, the lungs have been completed destroyed by them and the tumors may have progressed from the pleura of the lung to the heart and abdomen. It is not uncommon for this disease volatile even attack the body's lymph and blood systems.
Chest pain is great and the most frequent symptom of pleural mesothelioma. The pain, though often not directly related to the pleura of the lung, but seem to generate from the shoulder or upper abdomen. Another typical symptom of pleural meothelioma breathlessness is described as dyspnea. The cough may appear, and weight loss to the point of anorexia in patients in particular.
Since tumors of pleural mesothelioma cancer develop rapidly and increase the pleural space, which is beginning to collect the liquid that causes discomfort or pain. This pain is often the catalyst that sends someone to your doctor for help and what makes the situation for the diagnosis of the disease.
There are a variety of treatment options are being developed and these include: surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
About the Author:
Tim Dillard is a marketing executive who has worked with some of the largest law firms in America. Dillard is currently the president of Dillard Local Branding (http://www.dlbllc.com), a Houston-based web design, Internet marketing and search engine marketing firm.
Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Pleural Mesothelioma: Cancer of the Lining of the Lungs