What is Pleural Mesothelioma?

The pleura is the lining seen in the lungs. A kind of malignant tumor that develops on the pleura is called pleural mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is one of the most common types of mesothelioma. The main cause pleural mesothelioma is considered to be the exposure to asbestos fibers.

What are the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma?

A patient with this condition may experience symptoms associated with the common illnesses like fever, coughing, shortness of breath etc. Other symptoms of the condition may include:

• Chest pain

• Swelling in the arms or face

• Coughing up blood

• Unexplained weight loss

• Chest pain

• Painful or dry cough

• Lower back pain

• Fever /sweating

• Shortness of breath

• Tissue lumps in the chest

What are the causes of the condition?

The best-known cause of pleural mesothelioma is the exposure to asbestos. It is found that, genetic factors may also play a vital role in developing the condition. However, the link between the two is not yet confirmed. The condition may spread to other parts of the body very quickly.

How is it diagnosed?

The condition is difficult to diagnose and the physician may need to conduct various tests and procedures. Some of the common tests and diagnostic procedure for the condition may include:

• PET Scans

• CT scans

• Chest X-rays

• Cytology and biopsy

What are the treatment options for pleural mesothelioma?

As it is a kind of cancer, the condition may require treatments that are similar to that of traditional cancer treatment types. A multimodal therapy, which is a combination of three treatments, is mostly used. The most common treatment options may include the following:

• Radiation therapy

• Chemotherapy

• Surgery

• Multimodal therapies