Pleural Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and virulent cancer of mesothelial surfaces, which affects the lining of the lungs (pleura), the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (pericardium). Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to mineral fibers (asbestos or erionite). Some have been exposed to their work, others secondarily by family members who, unwittingly, have reduced fiber to the home of their work in their clothes or their hair or on their skin.

The occurrence of this disease, sometimes referred to asbestos cancer, this fiber is the main risk factor known for this type of cancer is not indicative of a minimum threshold of exposure and medical treatment has an impact limited to the life expectancy of patients, usually 12 to 18 months.

The first signs found on clinical examination are chest pain, often associated with breathlessness and recurrent pleural effusion, usually bleeding. The latency between first exposure and the development of mesothelioma is seldom less than 20 years, often around 30 to 40 years or more. It does not seem to exist a threshold value of exposure in relation to risk of onset.

He described cases of pleural mesothelioma occurring in the family environment close to the workers exposed to asbestos, subjects were exposed due to contamination of residential premises or during maintenance of dusty clothes.

Tobacco plays a synergistic role of cofactor in the risk of developing mesothelioma.