Pericardial Mesothelioma

                            WHAT IS PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA?

    The pericardium is a thin,cushioning,membrane that surrounds the heart.The area between the parietal and visceral peritoneum is filled with serous fluid that assists the heart in its movement.Pericardial mesothelioma, also known as malignant pericardial mesothelioma, is the third most common form,and one of the rarest forms of mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma is so rare that it comprises of less than 10% of all mesothelioma cases each year.Pericardial mesothelioma is also considered to be the most lethal of all mesotheliom's due to its direct attack to the serous layer of the heart.Unfortunately, the survival rate of pericardial mesothelioma is lower than other forms of mesothelioma. According to documented studies, pericardial mesothelioma patients, live no more than 6 months after being diagnosed. The remaining pericardial mesothelioma patients live, on average, 10 months. In rare cases pericardial mesothelioma patients will survive 2 years. Again, the earlier it is detected the higher the survival rate. Most  cases of pericardial mesothelioma are diagnosed during the latent stages of this type of cancer thus making it difficult to prolong the lives of those infected. The majority of pericardial mesothelioma cases are caused from exposure to asbestos but there is uncertainty of how it enters the pericardium.

                   WHO IS AT RISK FOR PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA?

    The highest risk occupations for pericardial mesothelioma include: home re modelers, construction workers,insulation manufacturers, insulation installers, automotive and railroad workers, gas mask manufacturers, some factory workers where asbestos is used and some miners. Just because you do not work in these industries does not mean you are not at risk for pericardial mesothelioma; asbestos fibers may be attached to the clothes of these workers and carried into the household. Pericardial mesothelioma may take 20 to 50 years to develop; much depends on how much asbestos you were exposed to. Since the latency in diagnosing pericardial mesothelioma most cases appear in people between the ages of 50 to 70 years old.    

                            PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA SYMPTOMS

    Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms maybe confused with many other ailments at first due to its latent nature in developing. Usually several weeks or months can pass before a correct diagnosis can be made. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms may be confused with many other symptoms from other ailments thus confusing the prognosis even more.The symptoms below may point to pericardial mesothelioma and it is recommended that you see a doctor and tell him your work history or possible exposure to asbestos.

    Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include:

Breathing difficulties
Chest Pain
Pericardial effusion - fluid in the pericardial area
Inflammation of the pericardial sac
Pericardium bleeding
Thickening of the pericardium

                                PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA STAGES

    Currently there is no staging system for pericardial mesothelioma. 

                             PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA TREATMENT

    The treatments for pericardial mesothelioma mainly consist of chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Usually pericardial mesothelioma requires a combination of these treatments and some are used more than others depending on the individual. There are also pericardial mesothelioma clinical trials that may also provide another alternative to the pericardial mesothelioma patient. These clinical trials may provide new and promising treatments for the pericardial mesothelioma patient. 

  ARTICLES AND SOURCES FOR MALIGNANT PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA 

     This list updated July 2009
 
Triplet Chemotherapy for Malignant Pericardial Mesothelioma: A Case Report

 Malignant Pericardial Mesothelioma. Report of two cases, review of  the literature and differntial diagnosis

 Report of a Case of Pericardial Mesothelioma with Liver Metastases Responding Well to Pemetrexed 

Recurrent pericardial effusion as initial manifestation of primary diffuse pericardial malignant mesothelioma 

Peripheral Lymphadenopathy as the Initial Manifestation of Pericardial Mesothelioma 

Pericardial malignant mesothelioma: a latent complication of radiotherapy?

Phase II Study of Vinorelbine in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma 

Pericardial malignant mesothelioma: a latent complication of radiotherapy? 

  Malignant pericardial mesothelioma. Report of two cases, review of the literature and differential diagnosis 

Primary pericardial mesothelioma presenting as constrictive pericarditis

Primary pericardial mesothelioma 

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