Mesothelioma


 

 

 

Mesothelioma  Symptoms

No visible or specific symptoms are observed in mesothelioma cases, but diagnosis proves fatal.

Symptoms in  viral pneumonia, the pleura covering the lungs

  • Shortness of breath

  • Chest pain

  • Persistent cough

 

Symptoms in pleural mesothelioma

Pleuralan effusion isaccumulation of fluid between the parietal pleura (the pleura covering the chest wall and diaphragm)

  • Pain or swelling in the abdomen due to a build-up of fluid

  • Nausea

  • Weight loss

  • Bowel obstruction

  • Anemia

  • Swelling of the feet.

Some patients show no symptoms at all.


 

 


Types
Pleural effusion is broken down into two categories, transudates and exudates. A transudate is a clear fluid that forms not because the pleural surfaces are diseased, but because of an imbalance between the normal production and removal of the fluid. The most common cause of transudative fluid is congestive heart failure. An exudate, which is often cloudy and contains many cells and proteins, results from disease of the pleura itself, and is common to mesothelioma. To determine whether a fluid is a transudate or exudate, a diagnostic thoracentesis, in which a needle or catheter is used to obtain a fluid sample, may be conducted.