Mesothelioma - Respiratory Neoplasia (Lung Cancer)
Pleura
Lines the chest cavities
Outer surface lined by flattened mesothelium
Fibrous supporting tissue of collagen and elastin fibres
Extends into the lung as Fibrous Septa (continuous lung parenchyma
Contains Lymph vessels
Mesothelium consists of flattened cuboidal mesothelial cells which stretch as lungs inflate
A primary tumour of the mesothelial lining can be benign or malignant, and they are difficult to diagnose. The most obviously malignant forms often closely resemble metastatic adenocarcinoma .
Asbestos fibres
Potent cause of neoplasia in the mesothelial lining of the pleural cavity
In absence of previous asbestos exposure the tumours are very rare
A special form of Silica
Fibres collect in the alveoli of the lung
Mesothelioma from asbestos
Latent period of 25 years after exposure before clinical symptoms
Symptoms include pleural effusion (fluid in the pleural cavity)
Diagnosis may be suspected based on chest X-ray and CT scan
must be confirmed either by examining serous effusion cytology or with a biopsy via thoracoscopy
Treatment = chemotherapy, radiotherapy & possibly surgery
Prognosis is poor and there is not currently a screening programme
Metastatic cancers to the pleura are much more common than mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of cells lining the body’s internal organs. It most often manifests in the outer lining of the lungs, but it may also occur in the lining of the abdomen, the heart, and the sac that surrounds the heart.The most common symptoms of mesothelioma are difficulty in breathing and chest pain. Other symptoms include wheezing, hoarseness, weight loss, coughing, fluid around the lungs, coughing up blood, and fatigue.