Mesothelioma (malignant mesothelioma) Types?

1. Pleural (lungs)
2. Peritoneal (abdomen)
3. Pericardial (heart)
4. Testicular

Pleural and peritoneal are the most common types, comprising nearly 90 percent of all diagnoses.

Primary Cause of All Mesothelioma Types
All the different types and subtypes of this disease share one common thread. They are caused primarily by a prolonged exposure to asbestos, usually in the workplace. If a doctor suspects that you have any form of mesothelioma, you should think back through your work background to find a connection to when you worked with or around asbestos materials and products.

Pleural Mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma develops in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, known as the pleura. This type represents approximately 75 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Although symptoms may vary, the most common pleural mesothelioma symptoms include:

Shortness of breath
Persistent dry cough
Persistent chest pain
Difficulty swallowing
Night sweats / fever
Fatigue

reatment for pleural mesothelioma largely depends on the stage of the cancer, which doctors use to describe how far it has progressed. When mesothelioma is diagnosed at an early stage, potentially curative surgery may be an option for patients

Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the mesothelial lining of the abdomen, known as the peritoneum. Approximately 20 percent of all mesothelioma cases are peritoneal. Common symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include:

Gastrointestinal icon
Abdominal pain
Abdominal swelling
Weight loss
Nausea / vomiting
Constipation or diarrhea
Fatigue

Patients with peritoneal mesothelioma may have symptoms caused by thickening of the peritoneal membrane and the build-up of fluid. Because peritoneal mesothelioma spreads throughout the body faster than other types of mesothelioma, treatment may be difficult. 

Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma develops on the exterior lining of the heart, known as the pericardium. This type of mesothelioma is rare and accounts for about 1 percent of all mesothelioma cases. Symptoms develop when fluid builds up in the spaces between the layers of the pericardium. Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include:

heart organ icon
Irregular Heartbeat
Chest Pain
Difficulty Breathing
Coughing
Night Sweats / Fever
Fatigue

As with other types of mesothelioma, doctors most commonly treat pericardial mesothelioma with palliative therapies that relieve symptoms. Removing pericardial tumors with surgery is risky because they grow so close to the heart.

Testicular Mesothelioma

Testicular mesothelioma develops in the tunica vaginalis, the lining of the testes. This is the rarest type of mesothelioma, accounting for less than 1 percent of all cases. Many patients are diagnosed while receiving surgery or treatment for another condition.

Because of the rarity of this type, it has been difficult for medical researchers to come up with a complete list of symptoms. The two main indicators of this cancer are painless testicular lumps and swelling of the scrotum. This form of mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until lumps develop.

Testicular mesothelioma patients may undergo surgery to remove all or part of the affected testicle. Doctors sometimes recommend adjuvant therapy, which involves chemotherapy or radiation therapy after the surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells.