Pericardial Mesothelioma - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis & Basic Facts for you to know
Pericardial mesothelioma provides about half of all accountable and pericardial tumors is extremely rare. This cancer represents approximately 6% of all mesothelioma cases, these tumors typically spread and tend to treat the entire heart.
Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium membrane which is composed of mesothelial cells that surrounds and protects the heart. This membrane has two layers: an outer layer called A)) B wandpericardium a deep-seated inner layer pericardium epicardium) (called
Cause
Unlike in the case of borstvliesmesothelioma, there is no clear link between this cancer and exposure to asbestos fibers, but some patients with pericardial mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos.
Some schools of thought believe that the asbestos fibers inhaled into the lungs through blood from the lungs to the heart travel, although this theory is not supported by conclusive evidence.
When asbestos fibers in the pericardium are placed are, the body can not secrete the asbestos fibers and they remain stuck in pericardium. These fibers long time to bring the pericardial cells to undergo changes that result in cancer transformation.
The cancer cells divide without control and they eventually lead to thickening of the pericardial membranes ultimately causing the development of tumors. These changes result in the accumulation of fluids - between the two layers with thickening of these layers combined in the resultant compression of the heart.
Symptoms
Most symptoms are caused by accumulation of fluid in the pericardial layer and thicken. The common symptoms are: A) the palpitation of the heart or irregular pain of the C pulse (arrhythmia) B) Chest) murmur (abnormal heart sounds) Fever) of the H of the Dyspnea Fatigue Cough of the D of E)) (dyspnea) F) or the night sweats I) orthopnoea (breathlessness when lying)
These symptoms are not specific to cancer, the clinical diagnosis very difficult.
Diagnosis
After getting a clinical diagnosis can be made a series of tests detect cancer and identify cancer cells.
- MRI, Magnetic resonance imaging
This is useful in assessing and determining the extent of development of cancer.
- Biopsy
This involves the removal of pericardium tissue or fluid for laboratory testing for the presence of mesothelioma cells to confirm.
- The x-ray of the breast
This helps to identify the tumor, there is a characteristic form of the heart on the x-ray film when there is a tumor of pericardium.
- CT scan of the chest
This also helps to identify the tumor.
Treatment
The pericardial mesothelioma patients are usually not suitable for surgery, except in very rare cases where cancer is diagnosed early and the surgery can be made small localized tumors removed.
This type of surgery is very risky because of the proximity of the heart.
The soothing treatment is often the only option for pericardial mesothelioma treatment, this type of treatment aimed at improving the quality of life of patients and reduce the severity of symptoms by accumulation of fluid in the pericardium caused.
The fine needle aspiration can be done the accumulated liquid drains surrounding the heart. The radiotherapy could also be used to shrink the tumor to reduce the symptoms by the compression of the heart by fluid accumulation caused. The proximity to the heart and lungs, however, makes this a very risky procedure.
Prognosis
The prognosis of this type of mesothelioma is very poor, about 50 -60% of all cases die within 6 months after diagnosis. Occasionally few patients survive for longer periods after treatment with partial surgical resection and radiotherapy.