Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Overview

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the lining covering the lungs. It is the most common form of mesothelioma and is usually associated with asbestos exposure.

Signs and Symptoms

Chest pain or pain when breathing, Shortness of breath, Persistent dry cough, Coughing up blood, Lumps under the skin overlying the chest, Difficulty swallowing, Fever especially at night, Excessive sweating, Finger clubbing, Unexplained weight loss, Loss of appetite, Fatigue

Common Causes

Inhalation of asbestos fibres into the lungs causing inflammation, DNA damage, and scarring

Risk Factors

People working in high risk occupations such as heavy industry and construction, People working at the asbestos-processing plant or asbestos mine, People serving on military ships and facilities built with asbestos-containing products, People living in residential areas near asbestos mine or contaminated sites, Exposure to asbestos fibres during demolition of old houses or home renovation without adhering to proper safety precautions, Exposure to asbestos during natural disaster, Family members of people exposed to asbestos, Exposure to other fibrous minerals like erionite, Family history of cancer, Exposure to radiation

Investigation Techniques

Medical history, Physical examination, Lung function tests, Chest x-ray, Biopsy such as fine needle aspiration, thoracentesis, thoracoscopy and mediastinoscopy, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the lungs, Computerised tomography (CT) scan of the lungs, Positron emission tomography (PET) scan

Treatment and Prevention

Surgery such as pleurectomy-decortication, extrapleural pneumonectomy, cytoreductive surgery, Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy, Multimodal therapy involving a combination of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, Gene therapy, Immunotherapy, Photodynamic therapy, Palliative care