What Symptoms of Pericardial Mesothelioma?

What is Pericardial Mesothelioma?

Pericardial Mesothelioma is a form of cancer linked to asbestos. This type of mesothelioma affects the pericardium, the membrane surrounding the heart muscle. Membranes also affects the lungs. It's a rat form of mesothelioma, which in itself is already a rare disease. Tumors in the pericardium are usually diffuse, meaning it can not be located and tend to cover the heart.

Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for half of the tumors that occur in the pericardium. The investigations carried out so far speak of this form of cancer accounts for between 1 and 6% of mesothelioma cases. This form of cancer is rare that no more than 150 cases have been used in the literature and no more coconut than 200 have been found worldwide.

What causes of pericardial mesothelioma?

Like other Pericardial mesothelioma cases undoubtedly the most common cause is being exposed for long periods to asbestos dust and fibers. The powder is a substance found in the construction, maintenance and repair of objects containing asbestos. It is known that asbestos fibers are inhaled once remain in the lungs and that are sent through the pericardium blood and other membranes. The lymphatic system also comes into play when asbestos fibers spread to other parts of the body.

After diagnosis are some important steps that must be taken by what they face mesothelioma. These steps can be the difference between succumbing to the disease quickly and maintain a good quality of life while fighting the disease. Even if symptoms appear that seem trivial, it is important to contact your doctor immediately, especially if they have been exposed to asbestos in the past.

What symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma?

Have been exposed to asbestos is not good at all. Symptoms may be delayed for 20-50 years and even not be relevant until the cancer has reached its later stages. It is very important to understand that symptoms are so diagnosis can be made soon.

Many symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are the same as the pleural and include:

1. Limitation on breathing
2. Chest pain
3. Chronic cough
4. Fatigue after light exercise
5. Palpitations
6. Arrhythmia
7. Murmur
8. Fever or night sweats
9. Difficulty in respiación even at rest (dyspnea)
10. Orthopnea (shortness of breath when you are upside down)

These symptoms are the result of the liquid being stored around the heart and that is caused by the cancerous tumor and are not symptoms of mesothelioma in itself. The symptoms that are specific to the pericardial mesothelioma are low blood pressure, fluid retention in the legs and palpitations.

What diagnosing the pericardial mesothelioma?

Anyone with the symptoms described here should visit your doctor immediately. The first part of the treatment of pericardial mesothelioma is to have a quick and accurate diagnosis.

Having a good diagnosis begins with a good medical history, including questions about possible exposure to asbestos, the next logical step is subjecting the patient to imaging, starting with an X-ray will reveal the state of health of the heart. After radiography, will make a scan and an MRI. A biopsy of the affected tissue is common to confirm the presence of mesothelioma in the lining of the heart practice.

Investigations are seeking new ways to diagnose the disease. New methods make possible early detection.

How to treatment of pericardial mesothelioma?

Treatment may begin after it has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. Since there is no cure for mesothelioma, treatments aim to prolong the patient's life and time in the time remaining quality of life will be the best. The investigations are aimed at finding new methods of treatment and even healing.

Treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, surgery and medication. The disease must be diagnosed in the early stages to the surgical option viable. Radiation is quite successful and is used to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor. Chemotherapy usually the second option but has side effects.

There are procedures that are used frequently and for which the liquid is created in the tissue surrounding the heart or chest is removed. Although these treatments do not treat the disease itself, they are successful to lessen the pain that the liquid may cause.

References:
American Cancer Society
US National Library of Medicine

Posted by Alfiansyah