Pericardial Mesothelioma Part IV

Mesothelioma Surrounding the Heart

Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer which affects the pericardium, which is the lining surrounding the heart. It is currently unknown how the asbestos fibers get into the pericardium. Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely hard to detect. Men are two times more likely to be diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma than women. There have been cases of pericardial mesothelioma metastasizing to the lung (pleural) or abdomen (peritoneal).

How Is Pericardial Mesothelioma Treated?

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  Pericardiectomy

  This surgery is rarely used in pericardial mesothelioma patients because the diagnosis is so rare it is hardly caught early enough. If patients are eligible, doctors remove the affected part of the pericardium and surrounding tumors.
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  Chemotherapy

  This is the most common treatment option for pericardial mesothelioma patients. There are various chemotherapy methods that can be used to improve a patient’s prognosis. Chemotherapy is most effective when used in conjunction with another treatment like radiation.
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  Radiation

  Like chemotherapy, this is one of the most noninvasive treatment options for pericardial patients. Radiation is used for both palliative and curative purposes. This is accomplished by shrinking the tumor, reducing the invasion on the heart.
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• Symptoms

  Patients may experience chest pain or other symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma. One of the most common reasons pericardial mesothelioma goes undetected is because it is highly uncommon for mesothelioma to originate in the pericardium. Patients have also reported symptoms that cause it to be mistaken for other heart ailments.

  • Chest Pain
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Swelling of Face or Arms
  • Fatigue

  • Cough
  • Pericardial Effusion
  • Irregular Heartbeat
  • Murmurs
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