Neoplastic Process
mesothelioma
mes·o·the·li·o·ma [ mez-uh-thee-lee-oh-muh, mes- ]
Subclass of:
Mesothelial Neoplasms;
Adenoma
Also called:
Malignant mesothelioma
Definitions related to mesothelioma:
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A benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) tumor affecting the lining of the chest or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A tumor derived from mesothelial tissue (peritoneum, pleura, pericardium). It appears as broad sheets of cells, with some regions containing spindle-shaped, sarcoma-like cells and other regions showing adenomatous patterns. Pleural mesotheliomas have been linked to exposure to asbestos. (Dorland, 27th ed)NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A usually malignant and aggressive neoplasm of the mesothelium which is often associated with exposure to asbestos.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Malignant tumor derived from mesothelial tissues of peritoneum, pleura, and pericardium.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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The tissue that lines your lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs is called mesothelium. Mesothelioma, also known as malignant mesothelioma, is cancer of that tissue. It usually starts in the lungs, but can also start in the abdomen or other organs. Malignant mesothelioma is rare but serious. Most people who get it have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles. After being exposed to asbestos, it usually takes a long time for the disease to form. Symptoms include Trouble breathing; Pain under the rib cage; Pain, swelling, or lumps in the abdomen; Weight loss for no known reason. Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between malignant mesothelioma and lung cancer. Your doctor uses imaging tests and a biopsy to make the diagnosis. Malignant mesothelioma is often found when it is advanced. This makes it harder to treat. Treatment may include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and/or targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances that attack specific cancer cells with less harm to normal cells. NIH: National Cancer InstituteMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Pleural mesothelioma is the only known pleural cancer and is caused by asbestos exposure in nearly all cases. Diagnosis is based on history and chest x-ray or CT findings and tissue biopsy. Treatment is supportive, which may require surgery, chemotherapy, or both.Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Malignancies involving mesothelial cells that normally line the body cavities, including the pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, and testis, are known as malignant mesothelioma. The 3 major histologic types are sarcomatous, epithelial, and mixed.WebMD, 2019
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Malignant mesothelioma (me-zoe-thee-lee-O-muh) is a type of cancer that occurs in the thin layer of tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs (mesothelium).Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive epithelial neoplasm arising from the lining of the lung, abdomen, pericardium, or tunica vaginalis. It is one of the few cancers related directly to an environmental exposure; asbestos is the chief causative agent.Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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