Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is number 2 most common form of mesothelioma cancer that affects the lining of the abdomen. This mesothelioma type affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen (peritoneum) and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly. Sometimes doctors refer to this disease as mesothelioma of the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma can spread to the lungs and when this occurs, it is considered secondary lung cancer.

The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum.

Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer counts 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma patients. The only known cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. For pleural mesothelioma (cancer of the lung lining), the disease process is fairly well understood. The asbestos stays in the lung when it inhaled, and these fibers enter in the pleura (lung lining). Our body cannot eliminated the asbestos fiber, and they can cause chronic inflammation that eventually leads to growth of cancerous tumors or in some cases asbestosis.

However, it still questioned how the asbestos fibers become lodged in the abdomen's peritoneum lining. It is possible that asbestos fibers, after being broken into smaller pieces in the lungs, are carried from the lungs into the blood stream, and lodge from the blood stream in the abdomen lining.

Main Article - Mesothelioma Types