What Is Mesothelioma?Surgery can extend the life expectancy of mesothelioma sufferers with resectable tumours. For patients with tumors that cannot be removed surgically chemotherapy or radiation therapy are the most common treatment options.Doctors can identify the mesothelioma type of a patient by examining the biopsy. All mesothelioma is caused by asbestos. Each cell type has a distinct set of symptoms and survival rates.Signs and symptomsPleural mesothelioma symptoms typically begin in the chest, but can also cause abdominal pain or in the lungs. They can also involve the heart (peritoneal mesothelioma) and testes (testicular mesothelioma). Other signs include weight loss as well as chest wall mass and breathing difficulties caused by pleural effusion. Mesothelioma symptoms are often difficult to recognize this is why it is important to visit your doctor promptly. A doctor will review the patient's medical history and will conduct several tests, including X-rays, CT scans and bloodwork. A biopsy can confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma. The most commonly used biopsy procedure is a thoracentesis where tissue or fluid samples are taken using a needle that is inserted into the chest cavity. Other types of biopsies include video-assisted thoracoscopy surgery as well as open thoracotomy.The symptoms vary based on the location where mesothelioma develops and the type of cell. Mesothelioma is usually associated with chest symptoms, such as persistent coughing or chest pain. As the cancer progresses and spreads, it can cause a cough that resembles pneumonia or breathing difficulties (dyspnea). Mesothelioma can also affect the abdominal or heart organs and cause nausea, swelling and pain. It can cause a hole in the lungs known as pulmonary edema.The epithelioid subtype of mesothelioma is the least aggressive and has a superior prognosis compared to other kinds. Its cells are square-shaped and have visible nuclei, or the center of a cell that carries genetic material. This allows specialists distinguish the sarcomatoid type of cell from mesothelioma as well as biphasic.Different mesothelioma types are more difficult to tell from one another and can result in confusing mesothelioma diagnostics. Sarcomatoid and epithelioid types of mesothelioma have a higher chance to develop. The testicular, peritoneal mesothelioma cells of the pericardial are also more difficult to differentiate than the pleural or pericardial types.DiagnosisIt is rare and is difficult for doctors to diagnose malignant epithelioid pleural melanoma. However, patients diagnosed with this type of the disease have a better chance of survival than other cell types of mesothelioma because it is more slow to spread and is more manageable to treat.If a patient is experiencing symptoms of mesothelioma or other cancers, doctors may recommend imaging tests to identify the presence of tumors or fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. These tests include x-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Once these tests are complete, a doctor can schedule an appointment for a biopsy to collect a tissue sample for testing. This is a minimally invasive procedure that can be carried out in a hospital or doctor's office. The biopsy specimen is then sent to a lab to be analyzed. The lab can identify the mesothelioma cell nature and determine if the cancer is malignant or benign. mesothelioma what causes it can also show the stage of mesothelioma's stage. Mesothelioma is classified according to the site of the cancer, whether it is in the lung or elsewhere in the body, as well as the number of cells found. Mesothelioma stage ranges from Stage 1 (in the lung lining, called the pleura) to Stage 4 (in the diaphragm muscle and other places in the chest).The lab can also conduct an immunohistochemistry test that confirms a diagnosis of epithelioid pleural mesothelioma. This process uses antibodies to detect specific mesothelioma cell markers. For example, calretinin is a marker that can help differentiate epithelioid mesothelioma from other types of cancer. It also helps distinguish sarcomatoid and biphasic mesothelioma cell types from each other.After the test results are made available the doctor can suggest an appropriate treatment plan for the patient. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. All of these treatments have the potential to prolong the life expectancy of patients. Doctors are more experienced in treating epithelioid mesothelioma than other cell types because it is the most common subtype. It is therefore much easier for doctors to recognize the cancer and effectively treat it. Mesothelioma is a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and patients who have worked in industries that employed asbestos for a long time are at risk.TreatmentWhen doctors diagnose mesothelioma, they must take into consideration all signs and order imaging tests to look for abnormalities in the tissues. They also examine the patient's medical history and conduct a physical exam. Patients are often recommended to an oncologist through their doctors for further testing.The type of mesothelioma cell the patient has determines what treatments they are eligible for. Asbestos victims with epithelioid mesothelioma typically have more options than patients with other types of cancer and are more likely to live longer after their diagnosis. Epithelioid mesothelioma patients have a median life expectancy of 19 months, and those with pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma have a median life expectancy of 55 months.While the majority of mesothelioma cases are caused by epithelial cells. However, other subtypes of the cancer are also very common. Patients with sarcomatoid mesothelioma often have a worse outcome, as they are more aggressive in their tumor growth and are less likely to be able to respond to treatment. Asbestos victims with mixed cell types have a moderate prognosis, as the different types of mesothelioma exhibit similar response to treatment and can be treated in a similar manner.The extent of the disease is used to categorize mesothelioma. Stage I epithelioid indicates that the cancer is still present in the linings of the lungs and abdomen. In contrast, stage III epithelioid mesothelioma is distinguished by the presence of multiple tumors in separate locations, whereas epithelioid mesothelioma of stage IV indicates that the cancer has spread into lymph nodes in the vicinity.No matter what stage, epithelioid cells respond better to treatment than sarcomatoid or biphasic mesothelioma. This is due to the fact that epithelioid mesotheliom cells behave differently on an cellular level and metastasize more quickly than the other two subtypes of mesothelioma.Depending on their stage Patients with mesothelioma epithelioid may undergo surgery to remove the affected tissue and decrease pressure on the internal organs. The doctors can select from a variety of surgical procedures, including pleurosurgery and extrapleural pneumonectomy. The treatment for a patient could include radiotherapy or chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma, and extend the duration of their survival. As a general rule, patients who receive multimodal therapy -- which usually includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation -- have the best prognosis.PrognosisIn general, patients who have epithelioid-like mesothelioma are more likely to prognosis than patients with other mesothelioma types. However, these numbers may differ based on different factors. These factors can include the stage of cancer, the type of cells and other conditions that are pre-existing.General oncologists and surgeons are able to determine a diagnosis based on a patient's symptoms. They may then send the biopsy sample to an expert pathologist for further examination. This involves a pathologist studying the tissue under a microscope, looking for the distinctive characteristics of mesothelioma cells. This can help confirm the diagnosis of mesothelioma as well as determine the mesothelioma subtype.Each mesothelioma subtype develops and spreads at a distinct rate. Additionally, they respond differently to treatment. Identifying the mesothelioma cell type can aid oncologists in developing a more precise prognosis for their patients.The best survival rate is for mesothelioma patients that affects the pleura. The prognosis is poorer for those diagnosed with mesothelioma peritoneal or ovarian mesot. These types of mesothelioma tend to be less severe and more easily treated than the pleural subtypes.The exact survival rate depends on the cellular makeup of mesothelioma. This is determined by a pathologist. A cellular subtype, known as tubulopapillary, for example, has finger-like patterns of growth and elongated shapes that appear uniform when viewed under a microscopy. The epithelioid mesothelioma cells are well differentiated and generally are found in the peritoneum. This is the most common mesothelioma. Adenomatoid mesothelioma, on contrary, is more likely than not to be spread throughout the body.Identifying the mesothelioma type can assist doctors in deciding the best treatment plan. They can consider whether the patient is going to undergo surgery, chemotherapy or other treatments. Extrapleural pneumonectomy might be suggested for patients suffering from pleural mesothelioid. This surgical procedure removes the affected lung and any surrounding tissues, such as the diaphragm, pericardium and lymph nodes.Other options for treatment include localized chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy. These treatments are designed to reduce the size and spread of tumors and improve the overall survival of patients. Recent research has shown that patients who undergo surgery in conjunction with radiation and chemotherapy have the best chance of survival.