Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining or membrane of the heart called pericardium. Not all but in majority of cases pericardium mesothelioma happens due to the exposure of asbestos. There are many patients of pericardial mesothelioma which have been exposed to asbestos at their workplaces or even in their homes. It is considered that pericardial mesothelioma is developed when fibers of asbestos enters to bloodstream and also make their way to the heart, from where they deposit in pericardium. Now the development of malignant tumors occurs, perhaps after a course of many years.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the very rarest type of mesothelioma as well as cancer too. About less than 200 cases are recorded until now. Because of the rareness of the disease physicians are not sure enough that just how the pericardial mesothelioma develops and advances.

Signs and Symptoms

Is it Pericardial mesothelioma?

Like other types of mesothelioma you will not notice the symptoms at early stages. In the later stages you will be mistaken the disease by the other heart conditions. So the pericardial mesothelioma is really hard to diagnose due to its rareness.

There are some common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma which may include

• Pain in chest
• Heart murmurs
• Fatigue
• Issues of respiratory

Diagnosis

To be very sure whether a patient is suffering from pericardial mesothelioma or not, physician recommends MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The MRI shows how much the disease advances and also it helps the physician to choose a right treatment for you.

Treatment

Sadly, but I have to say that pericardial mesothelioma has a very poor diagnosis! This is due to some extent of the rareness of the disease and also to some extent due to the late prognosis. Over 50% of the patients of pericardial mesothelioma died within six months after a prognosis.

Most of the treatments of pericardial mesothelioma are designed to improve the quality of life of the patient. The symptoms of patient can noticeably improve for many weeks or months by draining the fluid which may build in the pericardium.

If the pericardium mesothelioma is diagnosed at earlier stage, it may be treated with radiation therapy and surgery. But the process of treatment is very difficult as the patient’s heart and other vital organs should not be excessively exposed to radiation.

As I have already discussed that Pericardial mesothelioma is very hard and difficult to diagnose that’s why the techniques of treatments are not that much advanced!