Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare, asbestos related cancer originating in the pericardial sac; the thin layer of cells lining the heart. Mesothelioma cancer affects the mesothelium in the body cavity and is most commonly found on the lungs of workers who have been exposed to asbestos as an occupational hazard. Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer with mysterious developmental processes and little information is known to the medical community about the specific cause and treatments for this type of cancer. Because it grows on the heart, it is a complicated disease that can be very dangerous to the individual diagnosed with mesothelioma. Treatment options are limited, symptoms are difficult to discern from other disease conditions, and it is so rare that it often remains undiagnosed until the cancer has developed far beyond the reach of medicinal treatment.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Development
Asbestos is the leading known cause of any type of mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma is thought to develop because of asbestos fibers that enter into the blood stream and become lodged in the tissues inside the heart, though the exact developmental process is unknown to the medical community. Asbestos fibers become deeply embedded into the heart tissue over a period of many years, killing healthy cells with which they come into contact. Newer research in the field of mesothelioma suggests that because asbestos fibers cause cell death, is must be damaged cells near the fibers that become cancerous and ultimately develop into pericardial mesothelioma.
Pericardial mesothelioma is the least common of three types of mesothelioma and only slightly more common than a fourth, much rarer type of mesothelioma. The types of mesothelioma, in the order of their prevalence, are:
- Pleural mesothelioma – Asbestos related cancer that originates in the lining of the lung and chest wall (the pleura). This type of mesothelioma is reported in 75% of mesothelioma diagnoses.
- Peritoneal mesothelioma – Asbestos related cancer that originates in the lining of the abdomen and abdominal organs (the peritoneum).
- Pericardial mesothelioma – Asbestos related cancer that originates in the lining of the heart (the pericardium).
- Tunica vaginalis mesothelioma – Asbestos related cancer that originates on the lining of the testes (the tunica vaginalis).
Pericardial mesothelioma carries a latency period of up to fifty years. The amount of time between exposure to the asbestos fibers and the actual development of pericardial mesothelioma, combined with symptoms that are not presented until much later in the progression of the cancer, lead to a poor diagnosis for almost all victims. Treatment options are already very limited for pericardial mesothelioma even if diagnosed at very early stages, which leads to a prognosis of less than one year in many cases.
Pericardial Mesothelioma Symptoms
Since pericardial mesothelioma is so rare, the symptoms of this disease are not prolific in the study of mesothelioma. The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma that are known in the medical community are general heart condition or heart disease symptoms. The symptoms that are presented in these cases may be true of myriad conditions involving the circulatory system. However, a known history of asbestos exposure can greatly assist doctors in associating the following symptoms with this disease.
- Irregular Heart Beat
- Pain in the Chest
- Heart Murmurs
- FatigueWeakness
- Fever, Chills, and Sweating
- Labored or difficult breathing, even when not physically active
- Shortness of breath that is worse when lying down
Pericardial Mesothelioma Diagnosis
The diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma is conducted through a series of tests and image scans to determine the location of tumors and determine the exact type of disease occurring in the body cavity. Since pericardial mesothelioma causes symptoms that are common to many diseases, it is always important for any known exposure to asbestos to be disclosed to medical professionals. Pericardial mesothelioma is often found incidentally, while searching for the cause of symptoms and screening for an unrelated condition. Whatever the reason, doctors employ physical examinations, x-ray or computerized tomography (ct) technology, and other imaging test procedures to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma.
| Diagnostic Tests for Pericardial Mesothelioma |
| Diagnostic Information Obtained | Physical Exam | Chest X-Ray | CT Scan | PET Scan | MRI | Biopsy |
| Superficial Symptoms and Abnormalities | ◘ | |||||
| Pericardium Damage/Tumors/Scarring | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | |||
| Abnormal Masses or Deposits | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ||
| Pericardium Thickness | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | |||
| Pericardial Effusion | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | |||
| Precise Location of Abnormalities | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | |||
| Stage of Cancer (Prognosis) | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ||
| Viable Treatments | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ||
| Effectiveness of Treatments | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ◘ | ||
| Type of Abnormality (Malignant or Benign) | ◘ | ◘ | ||||
| Type of Cancer/ Cancer Cells Present | ◘ | |||||
| Determines Biphasic, epithelioid, or sarcomatiod Cells | ◘ |
A biopsy is the only accurate method through which pericardial mesothelioma can be diagnosed without uncertainty. There are several types of biopsy methods at the disposal of medical professionals, each of which intend to test a specific component of cancer.
| Pericardial Mesothelioma Biopsy Methods |
|---|
| Procedure | Method |
| Needle Biopsy | Cells are extracted through a small needle inserted through skin and between the ribs to gain access to affected tissues around the heart |
| Thorascopy | Surgical procedure that includes a small incision between the ribs to insert a camera. The camera is usually outfitted with small surgical tools to cut away the tissue sample. |
| Thoracotomy | Surgical procedure that includes a large incision between the ribs to open the chest cavity to provide access to the tissue. |
| Pericardiocentesis | Fluids (and cells) extracted from the chest cavity through a small needle through the skin into the pericardial sac to draw out fluid from within the pericardium. |
Once biopsy results confirm that an individual has developed pericardial mesothelioma, doctors must determine the stage to which the cancer has progressed in order to develop an appropriate treatment plan. The stages of pericardial mesothelioma are determined based on the TNM Staging system, a system based on general cancer characteristics.Because pericardial mesothelioma is rare, the stage-related characteristics specific to this particular type of cancer are not yet known.
Because pericardial mesothelioma is often diagnosed at late stages, treatment options must be carefully selected in order to provide the best quality of life for the remaining life expectancy of the patient while still attempting to treat the cancer and extend the amount of time they have left. Some pericardial mesothelioma treatments are directed at curing the cancer (removing or destroying as much of it as possible), while others are directed at patient comfort and the alleviation of symptoms.
