Malignant Mesothelioma, coronal CT scan. Legend: the malignant mesothelioma is indicated by yellow arrows, the central pleural effusion is marked with a yellow star. (1) right lung, (2) spine, (3) left lung, (4) ribs, (5) aorta, (6) spleen, (7) left kidney, (8) right kidney, (9) liver.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by contact with asbestos. In this disease, cancerous cells progress in the mesothelium, a protective lining that covers most of the body's inner organs. Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and inner chest wall), but it may also happen in the peritoneum (the lining of the stomach cavity), the heart,[1] the pericardium (a sac that surrounds the heart) or tunica vaginalis If cytology is positive or a plaque is regarded as suspicious, a biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. A physician removes a section of tissue for inspection under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy can be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the tumor is in the chest, the physician may perform a thoracoscopy. In this process, the physician makes a small incision through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the physician to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.

If the tumor is in the abdomen, the physician may perform a laparoscopy. To obtain tissue for analysis, the physician makes a small incision in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument into the stomach cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

Pleural Mesothelioma - is the most common form of the disease. A cancerous growth develops in the protective lung lining. Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include appetite loss, back discomfort, coughing up blood, chest pain, trouble swallowing, coughing, fever, fluid in the lung lining, hoarseness, loss of senses, lung failure, paralysis, rib pain, shortness of breath, swelling, weakness, and/or weight loss.

As you can see, mesothelioma symptoms are vast and common, making diagnosis difficult without testing. If you or a loved one experiences any of the above mesothelioma signs, consult your physician and inquire about examinations for mesothelioma, especially if you have a history of contact with asbestos.