Peritoneal Mesothelioma

      Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the cells that make up the lining around the outside of the lungs and inside of the ribs (pleura), or around the abdominal organs (peritoneum). There are also rare instances of malignant mesotheliomas in other areas of the body.

Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the sac lining the chest, the lining of the abdominal cavity, or the lining around the heart. Malignant mesothelioma is an uncommon cancer that is difficult to diagnose and generally unresponsive to therapy. Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious and deadly of all asbestos caused diseases.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is found in the abdomen in a thin membrane called the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rapidly fatal primary peritoneal malignancy with an average survival time of less than 1 year, mainly because there is no truly curative treatment currently available. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor of this peritoneal membrane. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, and weakness. Sometimes, however, a patient can have a relatively advanced case of this disease and experience no symptoms whatsoever. The only known cause to this disease is exposure to asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma take years to develop, and the exposure is likely to have taken place 20 or more years ago. This type of mesothelioma is the less common and is found in less than 25% of all mesothelioma cases. Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be either benign or malignant.

People who have been diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma are facing one of the most serious and life threatening forms of cancer. Proper diagnosis is critical. While long term survival statistics are not encouraging, there are significant advancements made in the treatment of this disease constantly.