Malignant Mesothelioma: Places Of Tumors Of Malignant Mesothelioma And Type

PRLog (Press Release) - Feb 25, 2010 -
Malignant mesothelioma: a cancer that starts in cells in the linings of the chest or abdomen.

A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells forms a lining inside and outside of abdomen, chest and space around heart and this lining is called mesothelium. These cells make special lubricant fluid which is important for movement of organs inside the body.

Malignant mesothelioma:

The cancerous tumor of the mesothelium is called a malignant mesothelioma, though this is often simply shortened and referred as mesothelioma. Mesothelioma’s can start in 4 main areas in the body.

   Pleural mesotheliomas: the chest cavity. They account for about 3 out of 4 mesotheliomas.
   Peritoneal mesotheliomas : the abdomen. They make most of the remaining cases.
   Pericardial mesotheliomas: the cavity around the heart and are very rare.
   Mesotheliomas of the tunica vaginalis: the covering layer of the testicles, which is actually an outpouching of peritoneum into the scrotum are very rare tumor.

Malignant mesothelioma’s classified into types based on how the cells are arranged when they are looked at under a microscope. Malignant mesothelioma is of three types and the prognosis of these three types:  

   Epithelioid: a better outlook or prognosis of about 50% to 60% of mesotheliomas. It tends to be more then other types.
   Sarcomatoid (fibrous): About 10% to 20% of mesotheliomas are of this type.
   Mixed (biphasic):  in this type there is finding of mesotheliomas that have both epithelioid and sarcomatoid areas. They make up about 30% to 40% of mesotheliomas.

For more information visit http://www.cancery.com/malignant-mesothelioma-a-rare-can ...