Types of Mesothelioma

While there are many different forms of mesothelioma, there are three common types: pericardial mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma & pleural mesothelioma.

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma originates in the lining of the heart. This is a rare form of mesothelioma with less than 10% of mesothelioma cases being pericardial. Pericardial mesothelioma can lie latent for over two decades after the initial asbestos
exposure. Common symptoms include:

• Chest pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Difficulty breathing
• Heart palpitations

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdominal cavity. Each year 300 to 500 of mesothelioma diagnoses represent cases of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Symptoms may include:

• Abdominal pain
• Anemia (low iron
  concentrations in the blood)
• Bloating
• Digestive problems
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Weight loss

This type of mesothelioma also can take over 20 years to fully develop and for symptoms to become evident.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the disease, which develops on the outer lining of the lungs. This type of mesothelioma tends to be found in men between the ages of 50 and 70 years old because of widespread industrial use during the last century.

Pleural mesothelioma, like all types of mesothelioma cancer, tends to exist without any noticeable symptoms until the condition has progressed past early stages. Once they do arise, pleural mesothelioma symptoms usually include:

• Abdominal pain
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Shoulder pain
• Fluid buildup in the lungs
• Vomiting
• Chest Pain
• Nausea

Of these, most pleural mesothelioma patients experience abdominal pain and/or shoulder pain. However, any combination of the above symptoms, along with a history of asbestos exposure, can be grounds for biopsies, x-rays and CT scans, all which are used to properly diagnose pleural mesothelioma.