Pericardial Mesothelioma CancerThe diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma can be difficult due to its rarity and difficult to identify in imaging tests. The majority of cases are only discovered through autopsy.Doctors search for signs and symptoms using physical examinations and imaging tests, such as an MRI or echocardiogram. They can also conduct biopsy to collect samples of fluid or tissue to test.DiagnosisA person diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma is likely to have breathing problems and pain however they might not be aware of the reason. The condition is rare and doctors need to conduct various tests to identify it. A chest CT scan is usually the first test, which shows both the heart and lungs. The scans can show a large tumor within the pericardial lining and can aid oncologists in deciding what to do next.Doctors may also perform a needle biopsy by passing a thin, long needle through the chest's skin between the ribs into the pleura and removing the tissue. By using numbing medications, this is usually an easy and quick procedure that does not require an overnight hospital stay. The procedure produces only an insignificant amount of blood, which is not enough to determine the severity of a condition. Doctors can also use an echocardiogram which uses sound waves to assess the movement of fluids around the heart. The results of these tests could occasionally help doctors decide if to eliminate the excess fluid, also known as a pericardial effusion.Doctors can relieve pressure from the lungs and heart by draining the fluid. However, they can't ensure that there aren't cancerous cells left behind. In the end, the only way to know whether a patient is suffering from pericardial mesothelioma is to perform an examination. A biopsy is performed by a physician who removes the tissue sample from the affected region and examines it under a microscope to determine if there is mesothelioma.Patients might not receive treatment until the disease is advanced enough, as asbestosis in the pericardium is often difficult to spot. In fact, most people are diagnosed with the disease after it has already spread in the body, which is why the odds of survival are low.Researchers are in search of an effective treatment for pericardial Mesothelioma. Some of the treatments being investigated include gene therapy and immunotherapy. These treatments aim to increase the immune system to kill cancerous cells or treat them with a drug that makes cancerous tissue sensitive to light. While these options are still experimental however, they may provide some patients with a new perspective.Signs and symptomsPericardial mesothelioma, a rare asbestos-related cancer that occurs in the heart's lining. It is responsible for approximately 1 to 5 percent of mesothelioma cases. It is often misdiagnosed since it has similar symptoms to other diseases, such as tuberculosis and arthritis rheumatoid. This makes it difficult to treat and manage.People with pericardial mesothelioma often have difficulty breathing chest pain, and weight loss. This is because the tumor and the subsequent fluid buildup in the pericardium could limit the heart's ability to pump blood. They may also develop a fever and cough. They could have a family history or lung, heart or blood disease.The first step in determining pericardial mesothelioma involves the patient undergoing a physical examination. The doctor will inquire about the patient's symptoms and their history of work, to determine what they may have been exposed to.Once a doctor has an understanding of the patient's symptoms, they will take imaging scans. These scans will reveal the pericardium and determine the extent of fluid buildup or the thickness of the pericardium. They will also look for any possible tumors within the pericardium. These scans may include an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) or a CT scan, also known as a computed tomography scan. They might also include radionuclide imaging, which involves injecting the patient with a specific chemical that can be tracked by a radiologist to locate suspected cancerous cells.Patients with mesothelioma typically require a biopsy in order to confirm the diagnosis. A tissue biopsy is when the doctor will take a small part of the affected region and send it to a lab to look for mesothelioma-like cells. If the biopsy shows mesothelioma, the doctor will likely carry out a procedure called the pericardiocentesis. It is an operation that removes fluid the heart area to alleviate symptoms and improve the patient's quality of life.Mesothelioma treatment can be costly for patients and their families. There are financial resources to help patients pay for these expenses. Patients can seek out mesothelioma specialists to learn more about the subject and ways to minimize their out-of-pocket costs.TreatmentPericardial Mesothelioma, which is the most rare asbestos-related cancer, occurs in the pericardium (the sac-like lining around the heart). The lowest survival rate of all mesothelioma varieties is due to the difficulty of diagnosing the condition and the proximity of the heart.Mesothelioma patients should seek medical care when they experience chest pain or have difficulty breathing. If diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma doctors can prescribe a combination of treatments to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life.Doctors may suggest imaging tests, such as an X radiograph or CT scan, to determine the root of the symptoms. A mesothelioma biopsy is an invasive procedure that can provide doctors with samples of mesothelioma to confirm a diagnosis. A pericardiocentesis, or percutaneous balloon-pericardiotomy, is a method that allows doctors to drain fluid from the pericardial cavity.Most pericardial treatments are palliative, just like all other mesothelioma treatments. These treatments may help reduce symptoms and extend the life of patients but they cannot cure the disease.A pericardiocentesis treatment is a procedure that uses needles to eliminate excess fluid from the region. During this procedure, surgeons employ an echocardiogram to locate the location where fluid has accumulated in the pouch of the pericardial. A catheter is attached to a needle that drains the excess liquid. This can relieve the pressure that can hinder the heart's functions.A pericardiectomy is another option. It involves the partial or complete removal of the pericardium. This procedure is intended to minimize the irritation that triggers pericardial effusions. It also eases constriction of other thoracic structures like airways and veins.Asbestos exposure may be the reason for mesothelioma pleural and pericardial. lung cancer from mesothelioma isn't clear how asbestos fibers travel from lung tissue to the pericardium, however, there are theories, such as the migration of the mesothelioma cell from the lungs to the heart and vice versa.Due to its rarity, mesothelioma of the pericardium does not have any formal staging system. Doctors determine the severity of a patient's condition using general guidelines for staging cancer.PrognosisThe symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are similar to those seen in many other heart conditions that makes it difficult for doctors to recognize this rare cancer. Asbestos exposure can take between 10 and 50 years to cause the pericardial cancer. Doctors typically detect the disease in an advanced stage based on symptoms and a history of health.When a patient exhibits symptoms like chest pain, difficulty breathing and heart palpitations, physicians can utilize imaging tests to assess the health of their lungs, heart and other parts of the body. These tests include X rays, CT scans, and echocardiograms. To identify pericardial pericardioma, doctors look for the presence of fluid around the heart (pericardial effusion) or visible tumors. Blood tests are a way to confirm a diagnosis and to determine the stage of mesothelioma.The mesothelioma stage determines treatment options and how successful the surgery will be. However, due to the rarity of mesothelioma pericardial, doctors don't have a formal staging method for this type of mesothelioma and often rely on general cancer-staging guidelines.In some instances mesothelioma of the pericardium can be successfully treated through a combination of surgical and chemotherapy treatments. Patients in the last stages of the disease are limited in their options for treatment and may also have a negative outlook.Pericardial mesothelioma is most likely to be a problem for those between 50 and 70, with males more commonly affected than women. It is also more common for veterans who were exposed asbestos at military bases.Veterans who are affected by mesothelioma are eligible for financial aid to pay for their treatment through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA benefits can also be used to cover lodging, travel and other costs associated with caregiving for the patient and their family members. This can help ease the financial burden associated with mesothelioma treatments and improve the quality of life of patients. Contact the VA to find out more about these benefits, or visit your local VA office. The VA also provides support groups for patients with mesothelioma and their families. These support groups provide practical and emotional support to help cope with a diagnosis of mesothelioma.