Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial Mesothelioma is the least common and most rare of all asbestos related cancers.

With pleural mesothelioma being the most common, it has received the most attention and research over the years. Of all cases of mesothelioma diagnosed each year, less than 10% are determined to be pericardial mesothelioma.

Pericardial mesothelioma attacks the pericardium or the lining that surround the heart. Because of the rarity of malignant pericardial mesothelioma, there has been little research on this specific form of mesothelioma. Because of the lack of research, there has not been an absolutely definitive link between asbestos exposure and the development of this terribly rare cancer, although research has proven a strong link between asbestos and the development of pericardial mesothelioma.

Even without definitive proof, the development of this rare cancer does seem to be associated with long term asbestos exposure. It is for this reason that patients and their families should consider contacting a mesothelioma attorney in order to understand what legal rights and potential avenues of compensation might be available for you as a result of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

With pleural mesothelioma it is well understood that asbestos fibers are either inhaled or swallowed and then migrate into the small airways of the lungs where they settle into the lining of the lungs. There these asbestos fibers can live for decades, causing chronic inflammation, which can eventually develop into malignant pleural mesothelioma.

With pericardial mesothelioma it is less well known how the asbestos fibers actually invade the pericardium, or the lining of the heart. It is thought that perhaps through the circulatory system, the asbestos fibers are carried through the body where they eventually settle into the lining of the heart, causing chronic inflammation which can develop into mesothelioma.

The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma take many years to develop. It is literally decades, sometimes even up to thirty or forty years after asbestos exposure before symptoms of mesothelioma develop. The earliest symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma are heart palpitations, chest pain or chest pressure even with the slightest exertion. This pain is generally caused by tissue expansion from the developing tumors or increasing fluid collecting in the area around the heart. Early symptoms might also include shortness of breath.

Of course with symptoms such as these you should seek immediate medical attention. Your physician will use a physical exam, a battery of tests such as lab work, a CT scan an MRI scan, or even a biopsy to determine an actual diagnosis. If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, then your physician will also use these tests to determine the extent of the disease. Your age, general health, other known medical conditions and the staging of mesothelioma will all be taken into account when determining a course of treatment.