What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a cancer of mesothelial cells covering the outside of most of our internal organs. It forms a coating that is sometimes known as the mesothelium.
Mesothelioma cancer can develop in the tissues covering the lungs or abdomen.
The tissues covering the lungs is known as the pleura, of which there are two.
Sometimes called pleural membranes, the gap between them is called the pleural space. The pleura are fibrous sheets and help protect the lungs, producing a lubricating fluid that fills the gap between the two pleura.
This helps the lungs to move smoothly in the chest when breathing.
Mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed in the pleura and is known as pleural mesothelioma. Being so close, pleural mesothelioma may also affect the sheet of tissue covering the heart – the pericardium. Doctors refer to the pericardium as the lining, even outside the heart. Help protect the heart and stop move smoothly in the sac that surrounds it. Basically, a lot of the same work for the heart as to make the pleura of the lungs.
The lining of the abdomen is known as the peritoneum, and helps protect the abdomen. It also produces a lubricating fluid to help the organs to move smoothly inside the abdomen as moving.
Mesothelioma the lining of the abdominal cavity you peritoneal mesothelioma and is much less common than pleural mesothelioma.
It is unusual for mesothelioma to spread to other parts of the body. Does not usually cause unpleasant symptoms if you do.
There is also a form of non-cancerous (benign) mesothelioma that can develop in the lining of the lungs or the lining of the reproductive organs. This can occur in men or women, but noncancerous tumors are very rare.
Tags: Lubricating Fluid, Lungs, Mesothelial Cells, Peritoneal Mesothelioma, What Is Mesothelioma
