What are the causes?

The pleura and the pleura is a double, smooth and slippery membrane around the lungs is: one membrane (pleural) holds the lungs and other membrane holds the chest wall.
Inhalation (inhalation or inspiration) sets the chest (or chest) out. Thanks pleural as an interface serving, put the lungs. The pleura may be an outbreak of cancer. Pleurakanker is 50 to 70% of the cases due to exposure to asbestos, mostly in the context of a professional (insulation, textiles, construction, filters). Pleurakanker is not caused by smoking.

Natural perilously

Asbestos is a natural product, a silicate of iron, magnesium and calcium (ie a mineral) that is flexible fibers that can not rot and fire resistant. Canada is the world’s leading producer of asbestos. Zgn. “amphibole” asbestos fibers are commonly used for heat and sound insulation and the ‘chrysotile’ asbestos fibers are used to make cement. Inhalation (or inhalation) of amphibole fibers may cause pleurakanker. The countries that produce chrysotile asbestos fibers to produce cement, chrysotile fibers do not claim that pleurakanker cause. The European experts argue that that risk is still very likely (but difficult to express in figures given the relatively low incidence of mesothelioma Fri).
As a reminder, exposure to asbestos fibers can cause three types of diseases:

* Pulmonary fibrosis (asbestosis) with progressive evolution to respiratory failure,
* Bronchuskanker (but we know that smoking is an important risk factor is asbestos),
* Pleurakanker of mesothelioma

Exposure to asbestos has been sometimes very short and sometimes very long ago (up to 40 years ago). The number of cases pleurakanker increases by 25% per 3 years!

When to consult?

The main sign of an outpouring of mesothelioma is fluid between the lung two membranes (pleural effusion or pleurisy). Possible symptoms are pain and burden breathing.

But other diseases, including lung infections, can cause a pleural effusion. Given that the effects of asbestos are manifest until years later, it is important to investigate if the lungs are believed to have ever been in contact with asbestos. This goes for people who years ago for a very short time or been exposed to asbestos.

What are the investigations?

The diagnosis is made with an ordinary X-ray of the lungs and a CT scan. In those studies can assess the level of local invasion. A biopsy with reduction of tissue samples is necessary to guarantee a diagnosis. A biopsy is taken under general anesthesia (or sedation) during a short hospital stay. The study of tissue samples may take several days.

What is the treatment?

Pleurakanker If the diagnosis is made, it is unfortunately too late.
Usually one can only palliative (treatment not the cause of the disease heals) treat (chemotherapy, surgery), which mainly seeks to relieve the pain, which may be severe. The patient dies after several months. Hence the importance of screening as it sounds ever to have had contact with asbestos!