Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that affects the pericardium - a layer of tissue around the heart. This is the rarest form of mesothelioma, make less than ten percent of mesothelioma cases. Like all forms of mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma has been associated with exposure to asbestos.

Many people believe mesothelioma is a cancer that affects only the lungs. In fact, mesothelioma cancer serous membrane, which lines the cavity in the middle of the three organs of the body. Their function is to remove fluid to protect and lubricate organs in the cavity.

Pleura is injured lungs in the chest cavity, and lubricants supplied by the pleural mesothelium also assist in breathing. Peritoneal cavity contains the stomach and other abdominal organs, and is limited by the peritoneum. Pericardial cavity contains the heart, and serous membrane that protects and surrounding area known as the pericardium.

What is Pericardial Mesothelioma?
Cancer is generally defined by the organ or area of the body where it originated. So a cancer that originated from the pericardial mesothelium is called pericardial mesothelioma.

No one is quite sure why pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest of the three types known, but some doctors suggest that it should be done in a way that asbestos fibers work their way into the body.

Because most of the inhaled asbestos fibers, it is expected that the highest percentage of mesothelioma cases will involve the pleural cavity. Asbestos fibers can make their way into the stomach and the stomach lining when phlegm and mucus-containing ingested asbestos fibers.

Since there is no direct route from outside the body to the pericardium, some doctors suggest that small asbestos particles literally work their way from the lung through the pleura invaded pericardial mesothelium.

Others theorized that the asbestos fibers made smaller than the lungs by blood, and become lodged in the lining of the heart when blood is pumped through the heart. In any case, after the asbestos fibers become lodged in serous tissue surrounding the heart, they irritate the immune system and chronic inflammation can cause the growth of cancer tumors similar to those seen in pleural mesothelioma. The tumor can grow around the heart, constricting the movement and disrupt its function.

Pericardial Mesothelioma Causes

Because of the extreme rarity of this cancer, make a definitive link to lead to difficult. There are fewer than two hundred cases of pericardial mesothelioma are diagnosed per year, about ten percent of all mesothelioma cases.

Pericardial mesothelioma appears to be strongly associated with exposure to asbestos, as other forms of mesothelioma, although the connection is more difficult to determine because of the very small number of cases diagnosed and confirmed.

Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
As the tumor grows and spreads cancer, pericardial tissue to swell and accumulate fluid around the heart. This can narrow the function of the heart and cause chest pain and irregular heartbeat.

In most cases, pericardial mesothelioma is found only when it has advanced far enough to cause physical symptoms. Sometimes, a person with pericardial mesothelioma may complain of heart-related symptoms such as shortness of breath and cough.

Treatment for Pericardial Mesothelioma

Because symptoms often do not become clear until the cancer has reached the final stage of the disease, treatment options are limited. The most common treatment recommended for this condition is surgery and radiation therapy, but the goal is palliative (to relieve symptoms) rather than to remove or treat cancer.

The prognosis for patients diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma is extremely poor, because cancer is often so far advanced when discovered. Often, life expectancy after diagnosis of only a few months.

Your Legal Rights
Because mesothelioma is associated with exposure to asbestos, if you or a loved one has been diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, you may have a legal right to compensation for your suffering and loss, and help your medical expenses.

Companies that deliberately exposed employees and the public to the dangers of asbestos has been responsible for their actions by the court, and has been forced to pay millions of dollars as compensation to those harmed by the carelessness and greed.

Unfortunately, the length of time between exposure to asbestos and the onset of symptoms can make it difficult to prove a relationship with a product or company. A lawyer skilled in negotiating asbestos and mesothelioma often have access to resources that will help identify those who are responsible for your condition, and understand the laws surrounding mesothelioma claims and litigation.

If you suffer due to negligence of the asbestos industry, contact a mesothelioma attorney to learn about your legal rights to obtain compensation for your injuries.

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