What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma starts in cells in the linings of certain parts of the body, such as the chest or abdomen. A layer of special cells called mesothelial cells lines the abdomen, inside of the chest and the space around the heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most of the internal organs. Mesothelium is the lining formed by these cells. The mesothelium helps to protect the organs by making a special lubricating fluid which allows organs to move around. This fluid also makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. When in different parts of the body the mesothelium has different names such as in the chest it is called the pleura, in ...view middle of the document...
Desmoplastics are very rare.
Benign tumors of the mesothelium also start in the mesothelium. Malignant mesothelioma should not be confused with benign tumors. These benign tumors can be removed by surgery and usually there is no need for additional treatment. Benign tumor may evolve in the mesothelium of certain reproductive organs. Benign tumor often starts in the epididymis (the small collection of ducts that carry sperm cells out of the testicle) in men. This tumor may begin in the fallopian tubes of women that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus or womb. Benign cystic mesothelioma is another non cancerous tumor that usually begins in mesothelium near reproductive organs of the female body.
Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura of benign tumor can form in the pleura which is surrounding the lungs. It used to be called benign fibrous mesothelioma, but doctors now identify that this tumor generally starts from tissue under the mesothelium and not from mesothelial cells. This disease usually called benign, but around one in ten are cancerous. A similar disease starting in the peritoneum is called solitary fibrous tumor of the peritoneum. Mesothelioma is quite rare but about 3,000 new cases of these are diagnosed every year in the United States. In the United States the rate of this increased from the 1970s to the early 1990s and later it has slowly decreased. The changes have mainly...
