The mesothelium is a membrane that surrounds many of the body’s internal organs. There are two layers to the membrane with fluid in between the two which serves to allow the organs to move against other structures in the body.

Mesothelioma is an aggressive form of cancer originating in the mesothelium. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer affecting between 2,000 and 3,000 people in the United States who are diagnosed each year. Mesothelioma can affect the peritoneum which surrounds the abdominal cavity, the body’s reproductive organs, the pleura which surrounds the lungs and the pericardium membrane which surrounds the body’s heart. The pericardium protects the body’s heart and allows it to contract and pump blood through the body. Patients with this type of cancer may experience specific symptoms and also may wish to learn how to treat pericardial mesothelioma.

Patients who contract pericardial or other types of mesothelioma may likely have worked around asbestos at some point in their lives. Even if the individual did not specifically work near asbestos, they may have lived with a family member who brought the asbestos dust home on their clothing or in their hair.

Because mesothelioma affects different areas of the body, symptoms are not always the same for everyone. The rarest form of mesothelioma is pericardial mesothelioma affecting less than five percent of all mesothelioma. The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may resemble symptoms of other illnesses. Patients may exhibit symptoms that are similar to other cardiovascular diseases. Doctors may experience difficulty diagnosing the cancer and may find that the patient has another type of mesothelioma such as secondary lung cancer. http://www.pericardialmesothelioma.org/pericardial-symptoms.php Because this disease is so difficult to diagnose, the prognosis may be poor.

Patients who begin to show signs and symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma may experience shortness of breath or difficulty breathing even when they are resting, pain in the chest area, a cough, heart palpitations and irregular heart beat. Patients may be affected by other symptoms such as fever, night sweats or general fatigue as well. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/symptoms.php Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma begin to occur due to the thickening of the pericardium membrane as well as the buildup of fluids between the layers of the membranes.

Pericardial mesothelioma can occur long after patients have been exposed to asbestos, even up to fifty years later. This is one of the main reasons why diagnosis is so difficult. Another reason why pericardial mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose is because the symptoms are non-specific. If you do have some or all of the above symptoms and you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, consult a medical professional. In order to accurately diagnose pericardial mesothelioma, a doctor will generally perform a medical history and a physical examination.

Depending on their findings, doctors may prescribe imaging tests such as an MRI. MRI is a magnetic resonance imaging test. This test has been found to be very effective at assessing mesothelioma as well as how far the disease has progressed. http://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/pericardial.php

Doctors may also suggest that patients have a biopsy. One form of biopsy is a fine needle aspiration. This involves a needle to be inserted into the pericardial area and tissue or fluid to be removed from the pericardium and sent to a lab to confirm that mesothelioma is present. A biopsy will confirm the point of origin of the mesothelioma.

As discussed in step 2, a diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma is difficult. Most patients who are diagnosed with this type of cancer are not generally candidates for surgery. If the cancer is diagnosed early, they may be eligible for surgery which involves the removal of pericardial tumors. This surgery is quite risky due to the proximity of the heart.

For most patients diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, the prognosis is dire. At this stage, hospice or other palliative care may be the only option. This type of care may help to improve the patient’s quality of life by helping to reduce symptoms caused by the buildup of fluid. A fine needle aspiration can remove excess fluid in the pericardial area which may alleviate some of the patient’s suffering. Radiation therapy may be an option for some of the patients with pericardial mesothelioma; however, again, the proximity of the heart and lungs make this surgery risky for some.

Clinical trials may be an option for patients with mesothelioma; however, there is no guarantee that trials are available or that patients will be accepted into any available trials. http://www.mesolink.org/resources/pericardial-mesothelioma.html Check with your doctor or local hospital to inquire about trials for patients with pericardial mesothelioma.