Pericardial Mesothelioma Cancer
The rarest form of Mesothelioma, Pericardial mesothelioma is a type of cancer that affects the pericardium. The Pericardium mesothelium lines the region around the heart. No more than 5 percent of all mesothelioma cases are pericardial. Pleural mesothelioma makes up the bulk of all incidents with 60 percent while Peritoneal Mesothelioma makes up the rest.
Pericardial mesothelioma is primarily contracted from asbestos exposure over a period of time. People that work in industries that deal with asbestos are at risk. While it is not entire clear how mesothelioma comes about from the asbestos, it is generally believed that asbestos fibers lodge themselves onto the pericardium lining causing the cells in that area to multiply rapidly.
This causes the membrane to thicken and eventually tumors emerge. While difficult to diagnose, symptoms include chest pains, murmurs, heart palpitations, constant fatigue, difficulty breathing (especially when lying down) and fever.
To confirm the cancer, X-Rays, MRI’s and a biopsy is performed. Treatment for patients affected with pericardial mesothelioma is usually very restricted since surgery in the heart area is very dangerous.
It takes a long time for any form of mesothelioma to appear after exposure to asbestos. Some patients contract mesothelioma only after some 50 years after exposure.
As such, steps with longevity and quality of life are taken instead. There is no cure for pericardial mesothelioma and due to its extreme rarity, a cure would most likely stem from research conducted in other more commonly reported cases of mesothelioma.
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