Key Takeaways
- There are four types of mesothelioma, each affecting a different part of the body — all caused by exposure to asbestos.
- Pleural mesothelioma (lining of the lungs) is the most common, accounting for about 75% of all cases. Symptoms include cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty swallowing. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma (lining of the abdomen) accounts for about 20% of cases. Symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, constipation, and weight loss. Treatment may include chemotherapy and HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy).
- Pericardial mesothelioma (lining of the heart) is very rare. Symptoms include chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, and heart murmur. Treatment options include radiation, chemotherapy, and pericardiectomy surgery.
- Testicular mesothelioma (tunica vaginalis) is the rarest form, affecting less than 1% of patients. Symptoms may include scrotal swelling and mass. The most common treatment is surgical removal of the affected testicle and spermatic cord.
Mesothelioma is a very rare form of cancer that is associated with exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring silicate material that is extremely harmful to breathe in and can lead to asbestos-related diseases. There are four different types of mesothelioma, all affecting different parts of the body. The four types of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, pericardial mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis.
Pleural Mesothelioma
This type of mesothelioma forms in the lining of the lungs, starting in the thoracic cavity. It is the most common form of mesothelioma, with about 75% of all cases. Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include cough, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, pain in the side of the chest or lower back, hoarseness, swelling of the face and arms, loss of appetite, night sweats, pleural effusion and pleural plaques. Common treatment options for pleural mesothelioma are immunotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, extra pleural pneumonectomy surgery and pleurectomy decortication surgery.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma starts in the abdominal cavity and affects about 20% of all victims. Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include nausea and vomiting, constipation, pain in the abdomen, swelling or fluid in the abdomen, blood clots, fever, weight loss, night sweats and intestinal obstruction. Treatment options for this type of mesothelioma include chemotherapy and cytoreductive therapy. Treatment can also include heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy known as HIPEC.
Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma starts in the cells lining the heart and is very rare. Common symptoms include irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, heart murmur, pain in the chest, dry cough, trouble swallowing, shoulder pain and swelling of the legs or lower extremities. Some treatment options for pericardial mesothelioma include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and pericardiectomy surgery.
Testicular Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis starts in the cell layer covering the testicles and is extremely rare, affecting less than 1% of people who have mesothelioma. Symptoms may include spermatocele, scrotal swelling, solid scrotal mass, hydrocele and inguinal mass. Treatment options may include chemotherapy or radiation therapy, but the most common treatment option is removing a testicle and its spermatic cord.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please call (800) 505-6000 for legal help. For more information, fill out our form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the four types of mesothelioma?
The four types are:
- Pleural mesothelioma — develops in the lining of the lungs (most common, ~75% of cases)
- Peritoneal mesothelioma — develops in the lining of the abdomen (~20% of cases)
- Pericardial mesothelioma — develops in the lining of the heart (very rare)
- Testicular mesothelioma — develops in the membrane covering the testicles (less than 1% of cases)
All four types are caused by exposure to asbestos.
Which type of mesothelioma is the most common?
Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most common, making up approximately 75% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. It develops in the thoracic cavity — the lining that surrounds the lungs — and is most commonly caused by inhaling asbestos fibers over time.
What are the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma?
Common symptoms include persistent cough, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing, pain in the side of the chest or lower back, hoarseness, swelling of the face and arms, loss of appetite, night sweats, and fluid buildup around the lungs (pleural effusion). Symptoms may not appear until decades after asbestos exposure.
What are the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma?
Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain and swelling, fluid buildup in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, constipation, intestinal obstruction, unexplained weight loss, night sweats, fever, and blood clots. Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, peritoneal mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose early.
What is HIPEC and how is it used to treat mesothelioma?
HIPEC (heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy) is a specialized treatment used primarily for peritoneal mesothelioma. During the procedure, heated chemotherapy drugs are delivered directly into the abdominal cavity after surgical removal of visible tumors. The heat may help the drugs penetrate and destroy cancer cells more effectively than standard chemotherapy alone.
How rare is pericardial mesothelioma?
Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare — it develops in the cells lining the heart and accounts for only a small fraction of all mesothelioma cases. Because of its location, it can be particularly challenging to treat. Symptoms include chest pain, irregular heart rhythm, shortness of breath, heart murmur, difficulty swallowing, and swelling of the legs. Treatment may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or pericardiectomy surgery.
What is testicular mesothelioma?
Testicular mesothelioma — also called mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis — is the rarest form, affecting less than 1% of all mesothelioma patients. It develops in the thin cell layer that covers the testicles. Symptoms may include scrotal swelling, a solid scrotal mass, hydrocele (fluid buildup), and inguinal mass. The most common treatment is surgical removal of the affected testicle and its spermatic cord, sometimes combined with chemotherapy or radiation.
What should I do if I’ve been diagnosed with any type of mesothelioma?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with any form of mesothelioma, understanding your treatment options and legal rights is an important first step. Your asbestos exposure history — where you worked, which products you were exposed to, and for how long — may be critical in building a legal claim. Call (800) 505-6000 or fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
