Pericardial Mesothelioma
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Pericardial mesothelioma affects the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). It is the rarest form of mesothelioma and only accounts for 1% of all diagnoses.
Overview Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the pericardium, which is the lining surrounding the heart. It is currently unknown how the asbestos fibers get into the pericardium. Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely hard to detect. Men are two times more likely to be diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma than women. There have been cases of pericardial mesothelioma metastasizing to the lung (pleural) or abdomen (peritoneal).
Symptoms Pericardial Mesothelioma
Patients may experience chest pain or other symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. One of the most common reasons pericardial mesothelioma goes undetected is because it is highly uncommon for mesothelioma to originate in the pericardium. Patients have also reported symptoms that cause it to be mistaken for other heart ailments.
Physicians have a difficult time diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma for many reasons. The extreme rarity of pericardial mesothelioma is the main reason it is difficult to diagnose. It has also been confused with constrictive pericarditis, cardiac tamponade (pressure from fluid buildup) and cardiac failure. However, pericardial mesothelioma can be diagnosed through fluid and tissue biopsies. Patients with pericardial mesothelioma commonly complain about chest pain. When mesothelioma is suspected, cardiac surgeons extract fluid or tissue and test the sample for mesothelioma.
Doctors utilize tests like the echocardiogram and CT scan to gather images that may help conclude if a patient has pericardial mesothelioma. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to diagnose or monitor heart ailments, including atrial fibrillation, heart disease and pericardial mesothelioma. The echo allows a doctor to see how a patient’s heart is beating and pumping blood. Many patients with pericardial mesothelioma experience chest pain because their heart is unable to pump at maximum capacity. Echocardiograms are also essential to determine the extent to which the heart has been affected by the mesothelioma.
Treatment Pericardial Mesothelioma
Treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma are restrictive because of the proximity of the lining to the heart itself. Unlike pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, where the lung or abdominal lining can be removed, the pericardium is presents further risks and can be difficult to remove.
Pericardiectomy Surgery
Mesothelioma Pericardiectomy SurgeryIf patients are deemed candidates, they may be able to receive a pericardiectomy. A pericardiectomy is the removal of some or all of the pericardium. This procedure is done to relieve the heart from being constricted. It is a risky surgery because of the heart being so close and risk of damage in the process. It’s also a very rare procedure in the case of mesothelioma, as many diagnoses have already metastasized. It is also seldom performed because the diagnoses of pericardial mesothelioma are few and far between. Only 1% of all diagnosed mesothelioma originates in the pericardium.
Prognosis Pericardial Mesothelioma
The prognosis for patients with pericardial mesothelioma is poorer than for pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. The rarity of this type of mesothelioma means it isn’t able to be studied as much as other mesotheliomas, contributing to the poor prognosis. There is also less information available about how the asbestos fibers lodge into the pericardium and which treatments are most effective. However, some cases show a positive outlook in treatment options. As more cases surface, additional treatment options are in the process of being researched and developed.
One patient who underwent a pericardiectomy survived five years after his initial surgery date. There has been research conducted through Johns Hopkins Hospital that shows pericardiectomies are performed with lower mortality rates as time goes on. Taking part in clinical trials offers unique treatments and is one way many patients improve their prognosis.
source:mesotheliomaguide.com
Overview Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the pericardium, which is the lining surrounding the heart. It is currently unknown how the asbestos fibers get into the pericardium. Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely hard to detect. Men are two times more likely to be diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma than women. There have been cases of pericardial mesothelioma metastasizing to the lung (pleural) or abdomen (peritoneal).
Symptoms Pericardial Mesothelioma
Patients may experience chest pain or other symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. One of the most common reasons pericardial mesothelioma goes undetected is because it is highly uncommon for mesothelioma to originate in the pericardium. Patients have also reported symptoms that cause it to be mistaken for other heart ailments.
- Chest Pain
- Shortness of Breath
- Swelling of Face or Arms
- Fatigue
- Cough
- Pericardial Effusion
- Irregular Heartbeat
- Murmurs
Physicians have a difficult time diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma for many reasons. The extreme rarity of pericardial mesothelioma is the main reason it is difficult to diagnose. It has also been confused with constrictive pericarditis, cardiac tamponade (pressure from fluid buildup) and cardiac failure. However, pericardial mesothelioma can be diagnosed through fluid and tissue biopsies. Patients with pericardial mesothelioma commonly complain about chest pain. When mesothelioma is suspected, cardiac surgeons extract fluid or tissue and test the sample for mesothelioma.
Doctors utilize tests like the echocardiogram and CT scan to gather images that may help conclude if a patient has pericardial mesothelioma. An echocardiogram uses sound waves to diagnose or monitor heart ailments, including atrial fibrillation, heart disease and pericardial mesothelioma. The echo allows a doctor to see how a patient’s heart is beating and pumping blood. Many patients with pericardial mesothelioma experience chest pain because their heart is unable to pump at maximum capacity. Echocardiograms are also essential to determine the extent to which the heart has been affected by the mesothelioma.
Treatment Pericardial Mesothelioma
Treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma are restrictive because of the proximity of the lining to the heart itself. Unlike pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma, where the lung or abdominal lining can be removed, the pericardium is presents further risks and can be difficult to remove.
Mesothelioma Pericardiectomy SurgeryIf patients are deemed candidates, they may be able to receive a pericardiectomy. A pericardiectomy is the removal of some or all of the pericardium. This procedure is done to relieve the heart from being constricted. It is a risky surgery because of the heart being so close and risk of damage in the process. It’s also a very rare procedure in the case of mesothelioma, as many diagnoses have already metastasized. It is also seldom performed because the diagnoses of pericardial mesothelioma are few and far between. Only 1% of all diagnosed mesothelioma originates in the pericardium.
Prognosis Pericardial Mesothelioma
The prognosis for patients with pericardial mesothelioma is poorer than for pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma. The rarity of this type of mesothelioma means it isn’t able to be studied as much as other mesotheliomas, contributing to the poor prognosis. There is also less information available about how the asbestos fibers lodge into the pericardium and which treatments are most effective. However, some cases show a positive outlook in treatment options. As more cases surface, additional treatment options are in the process of being researched and developed.
One patient who underwent a pericardiectomy survived five years after his initial surgery date. There has been research conducted through Johns Hopkins Hospital that shows pericardiectomies are performed with lower mortality rates as time goes on. Taking part in clinical trials offers unique treatments and is one way many patients improve their prognosis.
source:mesotheliomaguide.com
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