Pericardial Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Pericardial Mesothelioma is a condition that affects the pericardium, which is a lining of the heart. This type of mesothelioma generally results in symptoms such as chest discomfort or fatigue, which can be similar to other health conditions.

These symptoms may take years to develop following asbestos exposure, making a diagnosis challenging. Patients should discuss their experience of exposure to asbestos with their doctor to ensure a reliable diagnosis.

What is the cause of pericardial mesothelioma?

Pericardial Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops in the thin membrane that lines the heart. This is one of the rarest mesothelioma types, making up about 1 to 2% of all mesothelioma cases. Like mesothelioma types, pericardial mesothelioma is connected to asbestos exposure.

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral has been used for a long time in a myriad of household and commercial products. The toxic fibers can be inhaled or swallowed, and can be caught in the chest's lining and abdominal cavities. Mesothelioma is a result of fibrils that become irritated and form tumors that eventually spread throughout the body.

Doctors have only discovered a link between asbestos exposure and pericardial mesothelioma in a few instances. They do not yet fully understand how asbestos leads to this cancer in the pericardium, but they know that it happens in about a quarter of all patients diagnosed with mesothelioma attorneys. This is due to the fact that it is usually diagnosed decades after exposure to asbestos.

In the majority of instances, a person who is exposed to asbestos can develop pleural mesothelioma that forms in the lungs and forms a lining of the chest wall. However, they may also develop peritoneal mesothelioma, found in the abdomen, or testicular mesothelioma, which is found in the male testes. If they are also diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma it is difficult to identify because symptoms can be similar to the symptoms of other heart diseases.

The signs of pericardial cancer tend to be gradual and may impact your ability to breathe. The symptoms may include chest pain, trouble breathing and a fluid buildup around the heart called pericardial effusion. The condition is diagnosed by a physician using an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart) or a biopsy.

A mesothelioma expert can help determine if a patient suffers from the rare form of this disease and find the best treatment. In addition to asbestos exposure, other factors that can increase the risk of developing pericardial mesothelioma include genetics, an impaired immune system and radiation exposure. People with a family history of mesothelioma have an increased risk, too.

Symptoms

As with other mesothelioma types, pericardial mesothelioma occurs when asbestos fibers enter the tissue that surrounds the heart. This rare form of the cancer which is responsible for less than 1 percent of mesothelioma cases that are malignant is most often discovered in those who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace or by living with those who were affected by asbestos. Pericardial Mesothelioma is characterized by many symptoms that are difficult to identify.

Pericardial mesothelioma may occur when asbestos particles adhere to the pericardial lining and begin to grow into tumors that thicken the membrane. It is thought that this is what causes mesothelioma of the pericardium, but doctors aren't aware of how it develops. Most doctors think that the cancer originated from an area of the body, such as the abdominal cavity or the lungs (the peritoneum) and then it spread to the lining of the heart.

The mesothelium is the lining for both the chest and abdomen. This is the area where the majority of mesothelioma tumors develop. The disease can also develop in the linings of the peritoneum and testicles. However, this is much less common.

The symptoms of mesothelioma such as mesothelioma pericardial, can take decades to surface after exposure to asbestos. These symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases, and include chest pain, difficulty in breathing and fatigue, as well as weight loss. In a few instances, pericardial mesothelioma may cause a swollen finger, a condition in which the fingertips swell and appear more round than normal.

Doctors determine if pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer the patient's medical history and symptoms. They will ask the patient about any asbestos exposure and perform imaging tests such as x-rays, CT scans, and an echocardiogram in order to evaluate the pericardium. To confirm the diagnosis they'll also take a sample of fluid or tissue.

Pericardial mesothelioma is a rare condition, and a lot of doctors do not recognize the symptoms. It is important for patients to report all their symptoms to their doctor so that they can be examined for mesothelioma lawyers as well as other conditions. Bring our Symptom Checklist to your appointment will help ensure that your doctor is aware all of your symptoms and accurately diagnose you.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing pericardial cancer can be difficult. The symptoms can be similar to other heart conditions and may not manifest until the disease is advanced. Asbestos exposure can happen decades before pericardial msothelioma is diagnosed which makes it difficult to detect the link. Anyone who has had a history of asbestos should share their exposure history with doctors and inquire about any asbestos-related symptoms.

The reason for pericardial mesothelioma remains unknown however, doctors believe that it is caused by asbestos fibers that move from the lungs to the pericardium, and cause irritation to the tissue there. In time the tissues affected by irritation transform into cancerous cells which develop into tumors. Because of tumors, fluid builds up around the organ. This pressure causes symptoms.

Typically, doctors perform imaging tests such as Xrays and CT scans to spot any tumors or excess fluids. Then, they conduct tests on blood to confirm the presence of mesothelioma and determine the extent of cancerous cells growing.

Patients suffering from mesothelioma should be ready to discuss their history of work with their doctor. asbestos workers are at a higher risk of developing asbestos related illnesses, including lung cancer and mesothelioma attorney. Patients with a history of asbestos exposure may qualify for compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit.

A lawyer who has experience in asbestos litigation will assist you in understanding the legal options that are available to you if or someone loved ones has been exposed asbestos and developed pericardial Mesothelioma. Contact Madeksho Law Firm today for a no-cost consultation. There is no fee unless we recover compensation on your behalf.

Madeksho Law Firm has helped hundreds of veterans who have asbestos-related cases. Our lawyers are knowledgeable of the laws that apply to asbestos victims and can assist you in obtaining the benefits you deserve. Get started on your claim now by filling out our online form or by calling us. We will guide you through the whole procedure. Contact us at 1-888-654-7635. You can also download our free Veterans Packet to learn about the benefits available to you.

Treatment

To be able to accurately diagnose pericardial mesothelioma doctors must conduct physical examinations and ask patients about their asbestos exposure history. They can then perform a series of tests, including X-rays, CT Scans, echocardiograms and biopsies to identify the symptoms and determine if there is fluid buildup in the pericardium.

Asbestos fibers can take as long as 60 years to reach the lining of the heart, causing cancerous cells. Due to this long latency period, it is crucial for anyone who is experiencing mesothelioma related symptoms to consult a doctor immediately. It is also essential to be upfront about their prior exposure to asbestos in order to get the best treatment.

Pericardial mesothelioma, or pericardial mes the mesothelioma forms that are rare and is the reason for only 1% of all mesothelioma cases identified. This is due in part to the difficulty in diagnosing this disease since it can be a symptom of other heart diseases or signs.

A doctor will first look over the patient and listen to their breathing and heartbeat. The doctor can also order an MRI or CT scan of the chest in order to detect any areas of swelling, and also check for any tumors. If they discover fluid buildup in the pericardium, they'll likely require an echocardiogram in order to determine how the heart functions and determine whether there is any lining thickening.

Once the doctor has concluded there is a tumor or a fluid buildup in the pericardium, they will perform a biopsy to confirm their diagnosis and determine whether it is malignant. In the course of the biopsy, doctors will remove small samples of tissue or fluid and send samples to a laboratory to be tested further.

Since pericardial mesothelioma is an enumeration of treatments than other types, many sufferers will not recover from the cancer. However, there are some new treatment options being studied which could provide better results for patients. Gene therapy is one such method. It involves adding or taking certain genes out of the body of a patient to fight certain diseases. Another option is immunotherapy, which seeks to train a patient's immune system to fight cancer.