Pleural Mesothelioma

The onset of pleural mesothelioma symptoms is usually very slow and will not begin to appear in patients until 30 to 50 years after exposure to asbestos. The early symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are generally non-specific, and may lead to a delay in diagnosis.

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the pleura, or the lining around the lungs. The only known cause of pleural mesothelioma is previous exposure to asbestos fibers. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of mesothelioma, and accounts for over 80% of the reported mesothelioma cases in the United States.

Pleural mesothelioma patients usually experience difficulty breathing (dyspnea) and/or chest pains. Other less common symptoms of the disease include hoarseness, persistent coughing, difficulty sleeping and a progressive loss of appetite that leads to weight loss. A majority of pleural mesothelioma patients first experience pain in their lower back or at the side of their chest.

Pleural Effusion

One of the most common and specific symptoms of pleural mesothelioma is the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and the chest cavity, also known as pleural effusion. The pleura protects the lungs by producing a lubricating fluid that allows the lungs to expand and contract in a normal breathing pattern. Pleural effusion generally causes shortness of breath and requires a doctor to drain the fluid.

Pleural Thickening

The spread of a cancerous tumor over the pleura causes pleural thickening. This can reduce the flexibility of the pleura and encases the lungs in a restrictive girdle. When the lungs are restricted, they become less functional and breathing becomes more difficult. A person with pleural mesothelioma will become breathless while routinely exercising. As lung function decreases, a patient will have more and more trouble breathing.

Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma

A chest x-ray or CT scan is the necessary first step in identifying pleural mesothelioma, which is followed by a bronchoscopy. A bronchoscopy requires a viewing scope to look inside the lungs. A biopsy of the cancerous area is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma. This procedure requires obtaining a piece of tissue through a needle or a tube with a camera (thoracascopy).

Treatment of Pleural Mesothelioma

Treating pleural mesothelioma with surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been tried but with virtually no success because the cancer is extremely virulent and spreads rapidly. Although there is no cure for pleural mesothelioma, the treatment options have improved for managing pleural mesothelioma symptoms.

Most pleural mesothelioma patients are treated with a multimodal therapy, a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Palliative treatments have had success in pain reduction and improving the lungs function in sufferers. The average post-diagnosis survival time is 24 months in pleural mesothelioma patients.