Mesothelioma Pathology Outlines

Although asbestos is the best-known cause of asbestosis and mesothelioma, inhaling asbestos fibers can cause another variety of problems. The specific mechanism by which fibers cause cancer and other diseases is still under debate but what is clear is that once the fibers enter the body they can no longer be extracted and cause lung problems years after exposure has ceased Some of these problems can be precursors to serious diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. When the thin asbestos fibers that are like needles enter the pleura - the two membranes that line the lungs - they cause these layers to thicken. If this is expended over a wide area and interferes with breathing, what is known as diffuse pleural thickening is caused. If the thickening is restricted to small areas, these areas are called pleural plaques. Pleural effusion, another possible symptom of mesothelioma, is the name for the presence of fluid between the two layers of the pleura. It is usually caused...