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Epithelial Pleural Mesothelioma

Epithelial pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma cancer. Other subtypes for mesothelioma include sarcomatoid and biphasic (mixed), but these are less common than epithelial. Statistics show that epithelial pleural mesothelioma encompasses approximately 50 to 70 percent of all mesothelioma cases. In the United States, between 2,000 and 3,000 people are diagnosed with this rare cancer each year.

Mesothelioma cells are naturally an epithelial cell type themselves. These cells tend to have a well-defined, uniform shape when analyzed under a microscope. When being evaluated, epithelial pleural mesothelioma cells can closely resemble the cells of another form of cancer known as adenocarcinoma. After adenocarcinoma has developed, it can potentially spread to the mesothelial linings of the lungs. Patients who are diagnosed with adenocarcinoma should seek a second opinion from a physician with experience in both conditions to ensure they have received an accurate diagnosis.

Depending on the stage and location of the pleural mesothelioma tumors, treatment may be palliative or aggressive. Palliative treatment options will be aimed at relieving symptoms and improving the patients overall quality of life. Aggressive treatments may involve surgery followed by chemotherapy or radiation in order to fight the disease. Patients who are diagnosed with an epithelial mesothelioma subtype generally have a better chance of combating the cancer than those who are diagnosed with either sarcomatoid or biphasic.

The development of pleural mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused as a result of asbestos exposure. Symptoms of this cancer can take as long as 50 years to arise from the time someone is exposed and many are diagnosed in the latest stages of development. If you or a loved one have been exposed to asbestos, it is important to schedule routine visits with your doctor and notify him or her of any previous occurrences of exposure.

Sources

1. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_is_malignant_mesothelioma_29.asp?sitearea=
2. http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/malignantmesothelioma/HealthProfessional/page3