Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of mesothelioma cancer. This asbestos-related disease accounts for approximately five percent of all mesothelioma cases reported in the United States. Most patients with pericardial mesothelioma have symptoms for only two or three months before they are diagnosed. Individuals often ignore them or mistake them for common ailments.

Pericardial mesothelioma consists of cancerous cells that are growing on the lining of the heart (pericardium). The pericardium is extremely important in protecting the heart from damage, such as keeping the heart anchored to the surrounding walls and preventing an overfill of blood in the heart. Sufferers of pericardial mesothelioma may also experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, chest pains, persistent coughing and heart palpitations.

Patients can develop excessive fluid in the sac that encases the heart; this is known as pericardial effusion. Signs and symptoms may not occur until a large amount of fluid collects over time. Rapid fluid accumulation can impair the function of the heart and can be life threatening to the sufferer. The process of drawing out the fluid is called pericardiocentesis. A sample of the fluid can also help diagnose pericardial mesothelioma in patients.

Diagnosing Pericardial Mesothelioma
Echocardiogram is a preliminary test for pericardial mesothelioma and a biopsy will be taken later to confirm the diagnosis. An echocardiogram is a noninvasive diagnostic test that uses ultra-high frequency sound waves to create an image of the heart muscle. The test provides information regarding the size and shape of the heart, the pumping strength of the heart and the extent of damage inflicted on the heart’s surrounding tissues.

Treatment Options for Pericardial Mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is an extremely difficult cancer to treat; all treatment options have a poor success rate. Pericardial mesothelioma can rapidly turn into a terminal illness if not treated aggressively in the early stages of the disease.

If the cancer is advanced, then the only option is to improve the patient’s quality of life. Palliative treatments are an alternative way of treating pericardial mesothelioma, by treating the symptoms of the disease rather than the disease itself. Surgery is often needed to help minimize a patient’s level of discomfort. A patient’s lifespan from the point of diagnosis usually ranges from six weeks to one year.