Pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare type of mesothelioma which consists of the formation of tumors in the pericardium, which is a membrane in the heart. Basically all cases of pericardial mesothelioma are believed to be caused by asbestos exposure.
Pericardial mesothelioma is one of the rarer forms of mesothelioma, which accounts for only approximately 1-6% of all mesothelioma cases, according to pericardial mesothelioma studies. So far, there have only been approximately 150 reported cases of pericardial mesothelioma in the United States with about 200 pericardial mesothelioma cases reported worldwide. Treatment options vary but include chemotherapy and surgery. Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for about half of all pericardial tumors. Pericardial tumors typically are not localized and usually cover the entire heart.
Pericardial mesothelioma is developed in the pericardium which is a membrane covering the heart providing protection for the heart. The pericardium membrane consists of two layers. The outer layer is known as the parietal layer, also called the heart sac or theca cordis. The inner layer is called the visceral layer. The parietal layer is one piece of a larger membrane covering the entire interior of the chest, and the visceral layer is the pericardial layer which covers the heart.
As mentioned previously, pericardial mesothelioma is typically developed among patients who have been exposed to asbestos, either within their homes or during their jobs. Due to the rare nature of pericardial mesothelioma, doctors aren’t exactly sure how pericardial mesothelioma develops or progresses.
Asbestos was commonly used as an insulation and building material made up of small shard-like fibers. The majority of mesothelioma cases, including those of pericardial mesothelioma are a result of patients regularly breathing asbestos fibers. The asbestos fibers become stuck within the mesothelium of the lungs and then may cause the development of tumors.
Pericardial mesothelioma is believed to be caused when asbestos fibers find their way into the bloodstream and eventually into the heart where they become stuck in the pericardium. In some cases, malignant tumors are then developed, many times over the course of many years. Because there are so few reported cases of pericardial mesothelioma, accurate diagnosis is crucial and doctors believe that pericardial mesothelioma may take more than a decade to develop. Pericardial mesothelioma is one of the rarest forms of mesothelioma, as well as one of the rarest forms of cancer.
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