Types of Mesothelioma - Epithelioid Mesothelioma, Biphasic
Types of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is diagnosed as one of three different cell types:
- Epithelioid mesothelioma - about 70% of mesothelioma cases, has the best prognosis or outlook
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma - about 15% of cases
- Mixed or biphasic mesothelioma - about 15% of cases
Mesothelioma Info
There are three distinct types of mesothelioma, each affecting a different section of mesothelial tissue: the pleura (lung cavity), the peritoneum (abdominal cavity) and the pericardium (heart sac). Mesothelioma cancer is typed dependent on the section of mesothelial tissue that it affects:
- Pleural mesothelioma affects the pleura (most common type of mesothelioma).
- Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the peritoneum.
- Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium.
Pleural mesothelioma is often confused with asbestos lung cancer; however, asbestos lung cancer affects the parenchymal tissue of the lung while pleural mesothelioma affects the tissue lining of the pleura.
A positive mesothelioma diagnosis is verified through a type of diagnostic surgery called a biopsy. Biopsies involve the removal of a section of disease tissue for examination by a histopathologist. Mesothelioma symptoms vary dependent on the type of the disease; however, the most common presenting symptom is chronic chest pain associated with a buildup of fluid inside the pleural space.
Mesothelioma treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, gene therapy and immunotherapy; however, treatments have thus far been unable to prevent mesothelioma metastasis (cancer spread). New treatment modalities including the development of new chemotherapy drugs have researchers feeling optimistic about the future potential to combat the deadly disease.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, contact a mesothelioma attorney or asbestos attorney to get information about your right to compensation.