Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of malignant cancer, so named due to its genesis in the mesothelium – the protective lining of tissue that covers most of the body’s internal organs.
The mesothelium is composed of cells, as are all types of living tissue, and when the cells begin to grow at a rapid and abnormal rate, they begin to affect the functioning of the nearby organs.
Over time, these malignant cells spread throughout the body, causing ever more impairment of function, until the body ceases to operate.
Three primary types of mesothelioma exist:
- Pleural – mesothelioma in the lining of the lung
- Periotoneal – mesothelioma in the abdominal cavity
- Pericardial – mesothelioma of the sac surrounding the heart.
The disease is further divided into three types of malignant mesothelioma based upon its cellular structure:
- Epithelioid mesothelioma (50% to 70% of all malignant mesothelioma cases – the most common type)
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma (10% to 15% of mesothelioma cases – the least common type)
- Mixed or Biphasic mesothelioma (20% to 40% of mesothelioma cases – a combination of the above types)
Although many forms of therapy exist, no cure for mesothelioma is known.
Mesothelioma is almost always associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. If you have mesothelioma, contact one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys for a confidential assessment of your case.
