Papillary mesothelioma, also known as well-defined papillary mesothelioma, is a rare form of mesothelioma that differentiates from other types of the cancer because it doesn’t always spread to other parts of the body (metastasis). It is unknown what factors cause papillary mesothelioma to metastasize in some cases. It is most often benign, but can become malignant from the limited information that is available about this type of mesothelioma. Prognosis, symptoms, and location can vary. Papillary mesothelioma can occur in the chest cavity or abdominal cavity around the heart, lungs, or digestive organs just as other forms of mesothelioma. The very limited information available about the disease seem to implicate that it is more likely to occur in rare locations such as the ovaries or testes, however. It also seems to be more likely to occur in women during middle life year.
Since papillary mesothelioma doesn’t necessarily metastasize or metastasizes at a slower rate, diagnosis may be possible at an earlier stage making treatment options more effective. Symptoms seem to be similar to other types of mesothelioma at a similar stage and vary depending on the location of the cancer and size of tumors. Treatment is also similar to other mesothelioma treatments because not enough is known about papillary mesothelioma to develop specialized treatment programs.
The available records imply that papillary mesothelioma is more likely to reoccur after removal; many surgical treatments may be required over the life of the patient. The life-expectancy and prognosis for individuals who have been diagnosed with this form of mesothelioma seem to be better than those with other forms of the disease. It is also noted that most people who develop papillary mesothelioma have never been exposed to asbestos, the leading known cause of mesothelioma.
Though papillary mesothelioma is often benign and non-lethal, it can become malignant and can form large tumors that disrupt healthy processes. Large tumors may also inhibit the success of other abdominal treatments for other conditions. It is therefore recommended that the tumor is removed as soon as possible to prevent development. Oncologists consistently schedule testing even if surgery removes the entire tumor.
Papillary Mesothelioma Symptoms
Papillary mesothelioma symptoms aren’t specific to this form of mesothelioma. In other words, the symptoms exhibited by a particular patient case depend on where the tumor is located and how big it is rather than as a direct result of simply having the condition. Many of the symptoms associated with papillary mesothelioma are general to all types of tumors in the body. Since papillary mesothelioma most often develops in the abdominal cavity in women, the symptoms are those of abdominal tumors:
- Abdominal Pain
- Abdominal Tenderness
- Palpable Abdominal Mass
- Abdominal Swelling (Distention)
If papillary mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis (the mesothelium around the testes) it may be possible for a very small tumor to cause significant discomfort and pain.
Papillary Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Papillary mesothelioma is often asymptotic and produces no obvious discomfort to the patient. If the condition develops in the abdomen or chest cavity, the symptoms may be representative of numerous other conditions. Therefore, it is often diagnosed incidentally while searching for another type of condition. If papillary mesothelioma is causing symptoms it has either grown to be a significantly large tumor or has grown into a sensitive area where it is applying pressure or nerves or causing organ dysfunction because of blocked blood vessels or passageways. In either case, a series of test must be conducted to accurately diagnose the disease.
Following a physical examination to check for palpable masses in the abdomen, several image tests may be employed to see if there is any visual indication of papillary mesothelioma:
- Sonogram
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan
If a mass is discovered on the image tests, a biopsy is the only way to accurate conclude the papillary mesothelioma diagnosis. It is most common to employ one of two methods if a tumor is discovered in the abdomen.
| Biopsy Techniques for Diagnosis of Papillary Mesothelioma |
|---|
| Procedure | Method |
| Needle Biopsy | Cells are extracted through a small needle inserted through skin. |
| Laparoscopy | Cells are extracted through a surgical procedure in which a tiny camera outfitted with cutting tools is inserted into the abdomen near the tumor. |
Laparoscopic biopsies are often the preferred method of biopsy for papillary mesothelioma. During the procedure, a small incision is cut into the abdomen to allow surgeons to introduce a small camera tube through which they can view the tumor. Small cutting tools are then used to cut away a small portion of the tumor and removed from the body.
The tissue sample is typically examined under a microscope in a pathology lab. Papillary mesothelioma is tubular and papillary in shape. In cases of benign papillary mesothelioma, there will be no signs of cells that are going to multiply. Papillary mesothelioma cells are well-defined in the biopsy samples.
Papillary Mesothelioma Treatment
Papillary mesothelioma is most often treated through resection; surgery to remove the visible tumors in the body cavity. Surgeons attempt to remove the entire cell mass so that new growth of the tumor is mitigated for as long as is possible.Papillary mesothelioma is likely to grow again if mesothelioma cells remain in the body after surgery and more cells equal faster growth. In some instances, sensitive areas may be affected by cancer cells making full removal impossible. In these cases, a doctor may employ a follow up treatment in an attempt to destroy any remaining cancer cells. This may be accomplished with a chemotherapy “wash” in which drugs are placed directly in the abdomen to rinse the areas where mesothelioma cells are present.
Since papillary mesothelioma is likely to grow again following initial treatment, follow-up is a critical part of the patient’s treatment program. A patient may be scheduled for regular visits with an oncologist to undergo diagnostic testing to check for re-growth. Depending on the location of papillary mesothelioma, doctors may employ one of the treatments described in the table below.
