Peritoneal Mesothelioma Is ?
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer found in the peritoneum, a thin membrane surrounding the abdomen. Caused by exposure to asbestos, peritoneal mesothelioma is extremely rare, and the prognosis is generally poor.
Peritoneal mesothelioma (formally known as diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma) is the second-most common type of mesothelioma, accounting for approximately 15 to 20 percent of all mesothelioma diagnoses each year. There are four key differences between peritoneal mesothelioma and other types of the disease:
Location: Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdominal lining (peritoneum), a dual-layer membrane that surrounds the stomach and other abdominal organs. The visceral layer protects organs like the liver and gall bladder within the abdomen, while the parietal layer covers the outside of the abdomen.
Symptoms: Peritoneal mesothelioma most often develop in the abdomen and / or gastrointestinal system, rather than the chest and lungs.
Treatment: The most effective treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma is cytoreductive surgery followed by Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) - a heated chemotherapy "wash" that kills the cancer cells within the abdomen.
Survival: Peritoneal mesothelioma patients generally have a better prognosis and survival rate than those with other forms of the disease.
What is the Prognosis for Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
While the prognosis for all forms of mesothelioma is generally poor, the prognosis for peritoneal mesothelioma is somewhat better than for other types of the disease. The median survival period for peritoneal mesothelioma is 1 year, and the longest known survival was 19 years.
Patients who undergo cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC have significantly better survival rates. According to one study, approximately half of the peritoneal mesothelioma patients who undergo this form of treatment lived more than five years.
Two subtypes of peritoneal mesothelioma - multicystic mesothelioma and well-differentiated peritoneal (or papillary) mesothelioma - usually occur in women and are considered benign. Survival rates for these uncommon forms of the disease are much higher.
What are the Symptoms of Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can take decades to appear after being exposed to asbestos. When symptoms do start to appear, they typically develop first in the abdomen and / or gastrointestinal system, though some symptoms (like weight loss or fever) can be systemic.
Peritoneal mesothelioma can cause certain conditions, known as paraneoplastic syndromes, that may exhibit additional symptoms. These include:
Thrombocytosis - high platelet numbers in the body's blood supply
Hypoglycemia - low blood sugar
Venous thrombosis - blood clots that form in a vein
How is Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosed?
Because the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma are similar to those of other diseases, the diagnosis can be difficult. Usually, diagnostic tests focus on first ruling out more common diseases, including other forms of cancer.
Imaging Scans - Used to look for tumor masses
Blood Tests - Used to look for biomarkers and abnormal substances in the bloodstream
Abdominal Biopsy - Used to obtain a tissue sample to confirm a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis
The most common misdiagnoses for peritoneal mesothelioma include irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hernias, and other abdominal cancers, especially ovarian cancer.
As part of the mesothelioma diagnosis, the doctor will determine the stage of the cancer. Although there is no staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma, doctors may try to identify how advanced the disease is using relevant criteria.
What Treatments Are Available for Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
All types of mesothelioma are treated using a combination of three types of therapy:
Surgery - Known as debulking or cytoreduction, the primary goal is to remove as much of the tumor (s) as possible.
Chemotherapy - A systemic drug treatment (usually administered intravenously) that kills fast-growing cells, including mesothelioma cancer cells.
Radiation - A blast of targeted radiation to reduce the size of cancer tumors.
Finding a qualified doctor is one of the most important decisions that someone diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma can make. Many of the best doctors work in dedicated cancer clinics across the country. Some of these doctors also conduct clinical trials to study new therapies and methods of treating mesothelioma.
Source : www.mesothelioma.com
0 Response to "Peritoneal Mesothelioma Is ?"
Post a Comment