Mesothelioma Types

Mesothelioma is an uncommon type of cancer which is caused by the exposure to asbestos fibers or asbestos related products. This type of exposure can be directly, such as working full time or part time in asbestos processing center, or indirectly by inhalation of fine residual asbestos dust particles remaining on building material or clothing. A recent research studies show that asbestos exposure as short as just one year can also cause a variety of asbestos-related illnesses. The asbestos fibers enter the body, either through breathing or swallowing, they cause generally healthy cells to change into cancer.

Malignant mesothelioma types

There are three main types of malignant mesothelioma.

  • Epithelioid mesothelioma is a usual cell type; these cells are relatively uniform in shape like cubes or multi-sided boxes and usually have a tubular pattern with a discrete cell nucleus.
  • In Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a typical cell type; these cells have more of irregular shape and the nucleus of each cell is not clearly visible with a microscope as the epithelioid mesothelioma cancer cells.
  • The biphasic type can normally occur with the two types of cells that intermixed continuously throughout the span of tumor in the body. Transitional areas between the two cell types are often present.
  • Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a very rare aggressive kind of tumor of the peritoneum, considered as a universally fatal disease.

Non-malignant mesothelioma types

Non malignant is not cancerous. Nonmalignant tiny or small tumors may grow larger but they do not spread to other parts of the patient’s body. In the medical field it is also known as called benign. Benign tumor growth may cause harm or damage to any tissues, nerves or organs in its vicinity. Therefore, a benign tumor may still cause a serious illness and death if it continuously presses on important organ or nerve areas. These tumors generally start in the submesothelium tissues mostly under the mesothelium. This pleural mesothelioma disease is also cited in the medical field as "solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura or peritoneum".

  • Nonmalignant mesothelioma tumor may grow from a small size to a large size and press the lungs, generally causing the symptoms of shortness of breath or pericardium that affect the heart or pericardial space. They present all those symptoms of mesothelioma which are quite similar to malignant pleural mesothelioma.
  • Unlike other cancerous forms of mesothelioma, a benign or non-malignant tumor doesn’t spread to adjacent tissue in the body. Therefore treatment and removal of benign mesothelioma is much easier.
  • The development of benign mesothelioma in a patient indicates the possibility that serious malignant mesothelioma may develop in the near future. A Benign mesothelioma patient should continue with all regular check-ups and treatment after surgery and keep an update of records to doctor.

Please contact contact an asbestos professional for more information.