Pericardial Mesothelioma - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis & Basic Facts For You to Know
Pericardial mesothelioma accounts for about half of all pericardial tumors and is extremely rare. This cancer accounts for about 6% of all mesothelioma cases, these tumors are typically diffused and tend to cover the whole heart. Pericardial mesothelioma affects the pericardium which is the membrane made up of mesothelial cells that surrounds and protects the heart. This membrane has two layers: A} an outer layer called parietal pericardium B} an inner layer called the visceral pericardium {epicardium} Cause Unlike in the case of pleural mesothelioma, there is no clear link between this cancer and exposure to asbestos fibers, but a number of patients with pericardial mesothelioma have a history of exposure to asbestos. Some schools of thought believe that it is the inhaled asbestos fibers in the lungs that travel via blood from the lungs to the heart, although this theory is not supported by conclusive evidence. When asbestos fibers get lodged in the pericardium, the body is unable to ...