Sarcomatoid mesothelioma accounts for approximately 7 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases diagnosed. The other two subtypes of mesothelioma include epithelial and biphasic, which are more common than sarcomatoid. A variant form of sarcomatoid is desmoplastic mesothelioma. This form of mesothelioma is considered the most difficult one to diagnose because of its similarity to sarcomatoid and the fact that the cells can be misdiagnosed as benign fibrous tissue.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells are usually elongated and spindle-shaped. These cells tend to be irregular in size and often overlap one another. When analyzed under a microscope, sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells may resemble another form of cancer called pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma, a second opinion from a qualified physician is recommended to make sure an accurate diagnosis has been made.
Treatment options can differ significantly depending on what form of cancer a patient has been diagnosed with. In the case of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, where prognosis is often very poor, a patient may elect a treatment regimen that is much more aggressive since this form of cancer is typically resistant to treatment. Such options may include surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
Regardless of the subtype a patient may exhibit, developing pleural mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Exposure to this naturally occurring substance can occur by either inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. In many cases, these fibers have become airborne due to the disturbance of asbestos-containing materials. While complications may not present themselves immediately after someone has been exposed, symptoms of pleural mesothelioma can develop between 20 and 50 years later in life.
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