Pleural mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma, also known as mesothelioma of the pleura, is a tumor of the lining surrounding the lungs. The pleura is a thin tissue around the lungs and the inside of the chest. In order to protect the lungs, the pleura produces a small amount of fluid which helps cushion the lungs, making the lungs move more smoothly during breathing. There are two types of pleural mesothelioma: benign and malignant. Benign pleural mesothelioma is a non-cancerous tumor that has not spread to other organs of the body. If the tumor is large, it may squeeze the lung itself and cause shortness of breath and pain. Thus, even benign mesothelioma can cause significant health problems and should be treated.


Malignant pleural mesothelioma is cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body. Early symptoms of the disease may be very general. For this reason, they are often ignored. Most patients with mesothelioma experience symptoms for only two to three months before the cancer is diagnosed. Only around one-fourth of mesothelioma patients notice symptoms for six months or more before their cancer is found.


Pleural mesothelioma symptoms include the following:

• Shortness of breath
• Painful breathing (pleurisy)
• Coughing up blood
• Dry (nonproductive) cough
• Unusual lumps of tissue under the skin on the chest or abdomen
• Unexplained weight loss
• Pain under the rib cage, in the lower back, or at the side of the chest
• Pain or swelling in the abdomen
• Difficulty swallowing
• Hoarseness
• Fever
• Sweating
• Swelling of the face and arms
• Generalized fatigue
• Muscle weakness

Of course, symptoms of malignant pleural mesothelioma will vary depending on the patient and the progression of the disease. Some patients experience no symptoms at all. In the early stages of mesothelioma, symptoms are subtle. An asymptomatic patient may experience a pleural effusion, a small buildup of fluid between the outside lining of the lung and the chest cavity. Early on in the disease process, the most frequent symptoms are cough and shortness of breath.


The growing mass causes the pleura to expand, allowing fluid to enter. The build-up of fluid results in greater pain, sometimes severe, in the chest and nearby regions. More than 50 percent of patients with pleural mesothelioma experience pain in the lower back or at the side of the chest. Over time, most people suffer from fatigue, weakness and weight loss. As the disease progresses, some patients also develop severe breathing difficulties, fever, a rasping voice and begin to cough up blood.