Among all mesothelioma diagnoses, pericardial mesothelioma only accounts for one to six percent, and is therefore the rarest kind of this particular form of cancer. 'Pericardial' is derived from pericardium, which is the Latin expression for a thin lining, often also referred to as a sac, that embeds the heart and functions like a membrane. When cancer cells start to develop in an uncontrolled fashion in the pericardium, the condition is called pericardial mesothelioma. The tumors that grow along with the development of this illness, can cover the entire organ.

The treatments for pericardial mesothelioma are pretty much the same as for the other variations of this cancer. Via surgery, the tumors can be removed alongside some the surrounding tissue. Unfortunately, the disease is known for a log latency period. Frequently, when it is diagnosed, the condition has already progressed to an advanced stage, which limits the treatment options drastically.

Radiation therapy is also often used to treat this disease. By using this method, the tumor areas are being targeted with high energy x-rays, with the intent to kill the remaining cancer cells after surgery, or to shrink tumors that could not have been removed through surgery.

Chemotherapy is the third of the traditional standard treatments. Chemotherapy agents usually can't target the cancer cells only, and therefore may cause severe side effects. Another treatment option is the so called palliative surgery. Essentially, this is also a kind of surgical procedure and used in pericardial mesothelioma patients to provide some relief from the symptoms that can cause severe discomfort.

The symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma

As we already learned, the disease is usually being detected at a later stage. This must be in large part attributed to the fact that the symptoms very closely resemble the signs exhibited by patients with other and less severe conditions. As we look into the symptoms in more detail, you will see that they are rather common and not specific to this form of cancer. The symptoms seen in patients are usually a direct result of pericardial thickening, which means that the fluid accumulations in the tissue cause pain, and can include:

  • Dyspnea which refers to trouble breathing while at rest
  • Persistent Dry Cough
  • Orthopnea
  • Fatigue irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations (arrhythmia)
  • Chest pain along with night sweats or fever

The diagnosis of pericardial mesothelioma follows a standardized protocol. The patient will undergo physical exams and the a series of scans including, chest x-rays, CT-scans, PET-scans, MRIs. To diagnose the condition conclusively a biopsy is needed to evaluate a tissue sample for malignancy.

Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure. Especially if the patient has worked in an occupation that is known for frequent contact to the material, he is at an increased risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos induced diseases such as kidney cancer or lung cancer.