Two Main Types of Mesothelioma

What is Mesothelioma?

There are some types of Mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that typically affects the tissues covering the abdomen or the lung. It causes by the growth of mesothelial cells on the outer surface of the lung, abdomen, and other internal body organs. These cells then form the mesothelium, a kind of lining in the infected area. Its types can be determined by the location of the cancer or the type of the cancer cells. Depending on how the cells look, there are three types named Sarcomatoid or fibrous, Epithelioid, and mixed type.

These cells further are divided into other types whether they are small, clear, Acinar, or Tubopapillary. Mainly Mesothelioma is recognized from the location of the cancer called pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma infect the covering of the lung meanwhile peritoneal mesothelioma infect the abdomen.

Pleural mesothelioma

Among the two types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma happens more often than peritoneal mesothelioma. It begins in the pleura (pleural membranes) located in the outer surface of lung. These membranes play important roles to protect the lungs. Besides it also produces a lubricating fluid so the lungs will easily deflate and expand when we breathe. When pleural membranes are infected, they can work properly. They can’t both protect the lungs and produce a lubricating fluid. As a result, the lungs can easily get damaged. The patients will also feel pain on their chest. The cancer often spreads to pericardium, the sheet of tissue covering the heart because it is located near to the pleura. This may leads to worse problems.

Peritoneal mesothelioma

The other type is called peritoneal mesothelioma. It infects the layer of tissue covering the abdomen. It is less common than pleural mesothelioma and less dangerous too since it does not spread to other body organs.