Pleural mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma is pleural primary tumor, there are limitations of (mostly benign) and diffuse (all malignant) points. Which diffuse malignant mesothelioma to the chest tumor one of the worst prognosis. Most of the patients in the 40-70 age group, men more than women.

The first symptoms of chest pain, coughing and shortness of breath was the most common. Have a fever, sweating or joint pain mainly v. symptoms. About half of patients over a large number of pleural effusion with severe shortness of breath. No large pleural effusion, often even more chest pain, weight loss common. Ordinary X-ray found that pleural effusion, and lung tumor was wrapped, and so on, have advanced cases can cause the heart pericardium exudate video to expand and soft tissue damage, such as video and ribs.

For suspicious of malignant pleural mesothelioma patients, CT check the most useful. Hydrothorax cytology also contribute to the diagnosis. Routine laboratory tests, some patients may have more platelets, serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), such as elevated. For routine examination not clear diagnosis can be done pleural thoracoscopic biopsy. General most patients can have access diagnosis.

The treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma, is still no effective cure methods. Treatment, a palliative treatment, surgical treatment, chemotherapy and radiation treatment, the tumor is generally believed that the relative limitations of the stage I patients, so radical that the pleural pneumonectomy. For Ⅱ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ of patients, radical surgery has no meaning, only the purposes of palliative surgery. In fact, most of the patients to the disease diagnosis, is in Phase II above. The rapid growth in patients with pleural effusion often leads to serious breathing difficulties, palliative surgery for advanced patients improve their quality of life of great significance. Thoracic into the past use of chemotherapy drugs, such as pleural effusion or dissipated to pleural adhesions blocking the way often to be ineffective.