Skip to main content

What is Mesothelioma and Causes

Mesothelioma is a tumor derived from mesothelial cells of the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium and tunica albuginea. The mesothelium is a membrane that covers all our cavities inside. Pleural is the most common location (80%), affecting the pleura diffusely. The pleura is the membrane that covers the rib cage and the surface of the lungs.


It is a rare tumor. It occurs between the 5th and 7th decade of life due to prior occupational exposure to asbestos or asbestos (a mineral) in youth. The incidence is highest in Australia, Belgium and Britain (with more than 20 cases per million inhabitants). The incidence is higher in men than in women.

The mean survival of those affected by malignant mesothelioma is between six and 18 months.

Causes of Mesothelioma

The trade-name asbestos mineral formed by silica, magnesium oxide ferroso- lime and is the leading cause of mesothelioma, having proven carcinogenic potential in animals.

In humans it has been shown that the risk is proportional to the exposure to it, with miners and workers in the shipbuilding industry, construction, textile and plumbers, higher risk groups.

In fact it is estimated that up to 10% of workers at risk developing mesothelioma, and 80% of mesothelioma cases have a history of exposure to this mineral, whose use in construction began to limit decades and has been banned in many developed countries (in Spain in 2001), but is still present in many of the buildings around us. Currently, there are several court cases and associations of victims claiming compensation for those affected by their use.

The latency period (time between exposure and onset of disease) can be between 14 and 75 years, and other factors that can influence are the exposure time, intensity and environmental exposure, and there are even cases of familial mesothelioma .

Other causes of mesothelioma are ionizing radiation (increased incidence in patients previously treated with radiation therapy) or SV40 virus present between 60 and 86% of samples of mesothelioma (although you can not draw conclusive results in studies).

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

General Information about Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancerous) cells form in the lining of the chest or abdomen. Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the pleura (the thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs) or the peritoneum (the thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs of the abdomen). Malignant mesothelioma can form in the heart or testicles, but this is not common Exposure to asbestos can influence the risk of malignant mesothelioma. Anything that increases the risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean you are going to have cancer; Having no risk factors does not mean you will not have cancer. Talk to your doctor if you think you may be at risk. Most people with malignant mesothelioma have worked or lived in places where they inhaled or swallowed asbestos. After exposure to asbestos, it usually takes a lon

Mesothelioma Pathology

Mesothelioma can be divided into types of localized and diffuse pathology, but the former is extremely rare. When making a diagnosis of mesothelioma, it is important to confirm the location of the tumor and the specific raw results before histological examination.  Mesothelioma can be categorized histologically as epithelioid type, sarcomatoid type, biphasic type, desmoplastic type, among others. It can take many forms; consequently, there are many diseases to be differentiated when the pathology diagnosis of mesothelioma is based on histological analyzes. Immunohistochemical stains are useful for diagnosis, but the right combination of antibodies as positive or negative markers should be selected and a full evaluation of the results of staining is necessary. The accuracy of pathological diagnosis is very important for patients because they can receive official compensation or relief when the diagnosis of mesothelioma disease is confirmed. Under current conditions, clini

Diagnosis and Staging of Mesothelioma

 Mesothelioma is a rare and very aggressive tumor that affects the pleura, and its main cause is exposure to asbestos, a mineral used in construction whose use was banned four decades ago. Diagnosis and staging of mesothelioma Because the symptoms of this tumor are very unspecific, findings of suspected mesothelioma appear radiology, after checking history of exposure to asbestos.  The various radiological tests: CT or MRI are useful for the extension study or to determine resectability (operability) or injury. PET is superior to CT setting distant disease, but it has limitations in the locoregional staging. Obtaining a sample for pathological diagnosis of mesothelioma can be thoracentesis (obtaining pleural fluid) for subsequent cytological, but the profitability of this test is not more than 33%.  The pleural biopsy to obtain a tissue cylinder can be done blind (50% yield), or open by thoracoscopy (VATS), or thoracotomy, reaching up to 95% return; also reports t