Pericardial Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is known as the dangerous and painful cancer that happens when the asbestos fibers are inhaled by the sufferers and they gather in the chest cavity for long time or even decades and start to develop the cancer by hitting mesothelium (a tissues that cover heart, lungs, and other organs). Have you heard about pericardial mesothelioma? This kind of mesothelioma is a bit rare.

The part of the organs involved with this condition is pericardium a membrane which its function is to protect the heart. It has two parts of layer. First one is an outer layer (parietal pericardium), and the other one is Visceral pericardium or we usually call it as an inner layer.

 The symptoms start when the sufferers inhale asbestos fibers and those particles are trapped between the two layers of pericardium membrane. Through the decades, the cancer cells will grow slowly but surely. The individuals who inhale the asbestos fibers before will not even know what are existing in their inside pericardium since it will feel hurt after the mesothelioma has reached certain levels of developments.

There are symptoms that we can see from people that have chance to posses this disease: fatigue, night sweats, chronic coughing, hard breath, abnormal heartbeat, chest pain, heart murmurs, shortness of breathing.

Usually the doctors and other specialists use MRI to diagnose this disease. The other devices that support the dignosis are chest x-ray, CT scan, and biopsy. Although it is just about 6% sufferers of all the total mesothelioma patients, it is crucial also. We need to take into the consideration seriously about this disease.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma of the Heart

Of the 3,000 cases of mesothelioma each year, the rarest is mesothelioma of the heart called pericardial mesothelioma. The causes of pericardial mesothelioma is still not fully understood by scientists and doctors. Many scientists believe that asbestos is inhaled and ultimately makes its way to the blood stream however this is still very much a theory.

What is known is that asbestos fibers get stuck in the pericardial membranes of the heart. Over time, the accumalation of these asbestos fibers cause changes in the cells of the pericardium often resulting in cancer. Once these cells become cancerous, the divide and multiply rapidly. As these mesothelioma cells increase in quantity, the pericardial membranes thicken resulting in tumors. This build up puts pressure on the heart.

Since pericardial mesothelioma is so rare, it has been difficult for doctors to create a list of recognizable symptoms. The problem is that symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma resemble symptoms of other heart diseases. If any of the following symptoms are occuring, it is advised that one should seek medical attention as soon as possible. Only a number of specific tests can determine whether mesothelioma of the heart is apparent.

Symptoms of mesothelioma (pericardial mesothelioma) of the heart include:

• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing (event at rest)
• Fever
• Night sweats
• Fatigue