Malignant Abdominal Mesothelioma: A Rare Condition
What Is It? It is also known as peritoneal mesothelioma. It is a cancer that affects the peritoneum or abdominal lining, which is the reason why it is commonly referred to as abdominal mesothelioma. The peritoneum is composed of two parts. It’s made up of the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract and it covers the internal organs. The parietal peritoneum, on the other hand, is responsible for covering the abdominal cavity. Cells in these linings secrete a fluid. This fluid is the one that allows organs to move against each other such as when the intestines move food through the body. This fluid is created by the cells of the mesothelium. However, having cancer can cause the cells to overproduce, and thus creating an accumulation of excess fluid in the abdominal cavity. How Does Asbestos Cause Peritoneal Mesothelioma? Asbestos could cause peritoneal mesothelioma in two ways. Even if there really is no perfect explanation for this, it is still widely believed that it can cause peritoneal mesothelioma in one of the two ways presented below. When asbestos fibers are ingested, and when they are in the intestinal tract, it could find its way into the peritoneal cavity and peritoneum. Also, it could be inhaled and carried through the lymph node system and unto the peritoneal cavity. Pleural or Peritoneal Mesothelioma? This is a very important question to ask. Since pleural mesothelioma often spreads to the peritoneal cavity and is more common, it is crucial to determine whether the primary cancer is pleural mesothelioma instead of peritoneal mesothelioma.
Typical symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:
An X-ray or CT scan can show signs that a patient may indeed have peritoneal mesothelioma. For the physician to determine the malignancy level, a biopsy is then conducted. Treatment Treatment will be determined by physician and patient. Certain things have to be taken into consideration. This includes the stage of the peritoneal mesothelioma, the sizes and location of any tumors, and the age and health of the patient. Peritoneal mesothelioma has a very high mortality rate and in most cases, diagnosis occurs when it has already progressed too far. For such cases, all that can be done is to make it as comfortable as possible for the patient, which includes removing portions of the tumor to relieve the pressure. That is why early detection is very important as it is a powerful asset during treatment. These are some things you have to know about abdominal mesothelioma. If you experience any of the symptoms, make sure you call your health care provider for an appointment immediately. |