Mesothelioma Information

Pericardial mesothelioma is the most infrequent form of asbestos-related cancer. Individuals suffering from pericardial mesothelioma have cancerous growths in tissues surrounding the heart.

Sometimes doctors call this disease mesothelioma of the heart, or mesothelioma of the pericardium.

Exposure to asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are very durable and cannot be eliminated through the body's processes. Over time, these fibers cause chronic inflammation that eventually leads to growth of cancerous tumors or, in some cases, asbestosis.

It is not clearly understood how asbestos fibers become lodged in the pericardium, fostering the development of pericardial mesothelioma. It is possible that asbestos fibers, after being broken into smaller pieces in the lungs, are carried from the lungs into the blood stream. As the fibers are pumped through the heart, they become lodged in the heart lining. Once lodged in the pericardium, the chronic inflammation process leading to cancerous growths is similar to that occurring in pleural mesothelioma.

Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Early symptoms that indicate pericardial mesothelioma include chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and palpitations. Patients displaying the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are usually given an X-Ray or a CT scan to look for evidence of pericardial mesothelioma.

If growths or abnormalities are found in the tissue around the heart, doctors may attempt to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma through a biopsy. After a thorough examination, the pericardial mesothelioma patient and doctor discuss possible treatment options, including whether to attempt to defeat the pericardial mesothelioma or simply improve the patient's quality of life.

Decisions about pericardial mesothelioma involve consideration of the patient's age and condition, the stage to which the pericardial mesothelioma has advanced, tumor size(s), and location.

How Common Is Pericardial Mesothelioma?

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma cancer, affecting the least amount of mesothelioma cancer patients: less than 10%. Because pericardial mesothelioma is so rare, there is little specific research on this type of mesothelioma. Fewer than 200 of approximately 2,000 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed as pericardial mesothelioma each year. Due to the rarity of this cancer, pericardial mesothelioma has not been definitively associated with asbestos exposure, though strong links between asbestos and pericardial mesothelioma have been made.

Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer in the Lungs

Pericardial mesothelioma can spread to the lungs.  When this occurs, it is considered secondary lung cancer. 

Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms

The rapid growth of cancerous tumors can cause expansion of tissue and accumulation of fluid around the heart.  This fluid can interfere with how the heart functions and cause chest pain and irregular heartbeat.  Patients are typically diagnosed when they complain of chest pain or other heart-related symptoms.  Shortness of breath and cough are less common symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma cancer.  Unlike in the lungs, it is less common for other cancers to metastasize to the heart.  Pericardial mesothelioma patients can exhibit all three kinds of mesothelioma cancer cells:  epithelioid mesothelioma, sarcomatoid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma.  The type of cancer cells can affect the prognosis.  It is thought that patients with the biphasic kind of mesothelioma cancer cells have a shorter life expectancy.

Legal Options

Patients with pericardial mesothelioma may be eligible to recover medical fees and other costs associated with pericardial mesothelioma from parties proven responsible for asbestos exposure.