Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is one of the four primary
types of malignant mesothelioma. The name stems from the area where the
cancer develops, along the peritoneum, also known as the lining of the
abdomen. Roughly 250 to 500 new cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are
diagnosed in the U.S. each year, making it the second-most common
mesothelioma type.
All mesotheliomas, including peritoneal, stem from extended
exposure to asbestos, usually at work. People diagnosed with the disease
often can pinpoint a time in their lives when they were around asbestos
dust, fibers or products for a sustained period. This exposure leads to
ingestion or inhalation of microscopic asbestos particles, which can
produce cancerous cells and then tumors.
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Mesothelioma in the Peritoneum
The peritoneum is a protective membrane that surrounds the
abdomen, or belly. It has two layers, and mesothelioma can develop on
both. The parietal layer covers the abdominal cavity, while the visceral
layer surrounds the stomach, liver and other organs of the abdomen.
Together, the layers support the abdominal cavity as a whole and the
organs within it.
What Causes Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
Although no definitive answer is available, cancer experts most commonly associate the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma with the following theories:- Swallowed asbestos fibers travel from the digestive system to the peritoneum.
- Inhaled asbestos fibers reach the peritoneum through the lymphatic system, which produces and stores cells that fight disease.
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Early symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include
abdominal pain or swelling, and diarrhea or constipation. Unfortunately,
some patients don't experience any symptoms until tumors have spread.
This scenario makes treating the disease hard and surviving it even
harder.
Common peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms include:
- Abdominal pain or swelling
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Changes in bowel habits (including diarrhea or constipation)
- A feeling of fullness
- Night sweats or fever
- Unexplained weight loss
- Nausea or vomiting
- Fatigue
- Anemia
Diagnosis
The latest advances in medical technology allow doctors to diagnose this disease
earlier than ever before, yet even experienced cancer doctors can
struggle to diagnose it accurately. In fact, the process can take
months.
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The Diagnostic Process for Peritoneal Mesothelioma
The process of diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma is similar to that of other types. It starts with a thorough examination of your medical history, occupational history, and overall physical condition, followed by a series of tests including imaging scans and biopsies.Be sure to mention any history of asbestos exposure, even if your doctors forget to ask. It's important to share every detail you can remember, including the dates the incidents occurred and the length and duration of the exposures. This information will alert your doctors about the possibility of an asbestos-related disease and help them determine the appropriate next steps.
Because this cancer is so rare, doctors who lack experience with the disease often misdiagnose mesothelioma patients with more common illnesses who have similar symptoms — a serious mistake that delays proper treatment. Peritoneal mesothelioma symptoms like abdominal swelling, weight loss and hernia also arise in other abdominal cancers and many less serious conditions, increasing the likelihood of a misdiagnosis.
If you have a history of asbestos exposure, the best way to ensure an accurate diagnosis is to schedule an appointment with a specialist. Doctors who specialize in mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions have the knowledge and tools needed to make a prompt diagnosis and explain all the treatment options available to you.
Imaging Scanning
When a patient is experiencing symptoms like pain or swelling in the abdomen, doctors likely will ask for a chest X-ray, CT scan or another type of imaging scan. These tests will help detect potential tumors and show any cancer spread. They also help doctors choose the best biopsy locations.
Learn more about image scanning
Biopsies
Biopsies come next. Radiologic biopsies are minor procedures that pull fluid and tissue samples that can be inspected under a microscope and can be used for other tests. This is an essential step in the diagnostic process because only a biopsy can confirm a peritoneal mesothelioma diagnosis.
Learn more about biopsies
Prognosis
Doctors who treat peritoneal mesothelioma generally deliver a
projected life expectancy of less than one year. However, one promising
and innovative treatment called HIPEC, which combines surgery and heated
chemotherapy, can extend survival by several years.
Peritoneal cancer survival rates are better among those with an early diagnosis (stage I and stage II) than a late stage (stage III and stage IV) which makes early detection a key in improving a patient's prognosis. Stage I or stage II diagnoses typically give oncologists more options for treatment and gives patients more time for those treatments to work.
Although the stage of the cancer is the most important factor for determining the peritoneal cancer survival rate early, other things about the cancer can be meaningful. The location of tumors, their cell type, a patient's age and overall health all come into play. Someone who can withstand aggressive treatments like surgery often have an improved long-term prognosis.
Peritoneal cancer survival rates are better among those with an early diagnosis (stage I and stage II) than a late stage (stage III and stage IV) which makes early detection a key in improving a patient's prognosis. Stage I or stage II diagnoses typically give oncologists more options for treatment and gives patients more time for those treatments to work.
Although the stage of the cancer is the most important factor for determining the peritoneal cancer survival rate early, other things about the cancer can be meaningful. The location of tumors, their cell type, a patient's age and overall health all come into play. Someone who can withstand aggressive treatments like surgery often have an improved long-term prognosis.
Treatment Options
Although an increasing number of cancer specialists
have emerged as treatment leaders for peritoneal diseases in recent
years, the total number of specialists remains small. If there are no
peritoneal specialists nearby, you may want to look for one in a
neighboring state.
Treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and combination therapy. Doctors believe combining traditional treatments often works better than any single treatment. A combination of one or more treatments is called multimodal therapy. Research shows that a multimodal treatment approach usually offers the best improvement in terms of survival.
The most promising therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma may be heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a multimodal treatment that combines surgery and heated chemotherapy. While doctors only give HIPEC on a case-by-case basis, it has shown excellent results for select patients in terms of extended survival and improved quality of life. In studies on small groups of patients treated with HIPEC, some people lived five years or longer.
To qualify for HIPEC, a patient's cancer must be limited enough for doctors to completely remove with surgery, and must not have spread beyond the abdomen. In addition, qualifying patients must spend more than half of their waking hours up and about and be capable of self-care, which includes basic health maintenance, personal hygiene and the ability to follow doctor recommendations. In studies on small groups of patients treated with HIPEC, some people lived five years or longer.
Treatment options for peritoneal mesothelioma include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and combination therapy. Doctors believe combining traditional treatments often works better than any single treatment. A combination of one or more treatments is called multimodal therapy. Research shows that a multimodal treatment approach usually offers the best improvement in terms of survival.
The most promising therapy for peritoneal mesothelioma may be heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), a multimodal treatment that combines surgery and heated chemotherapy. While doctors only give HIPEC on a case-by-case basis, it has shown excellent results for select patients in terms of extended survival and improved quality of life. In studies on small groups of patients treated with HIPEC, some people lived five years or longer.
To qualify for HIPEC, a patient's cancer must be limited enough for doctors to completely remove with surgery, and must not have spread beyond the abdomen. In addition, qualifying patients must spend more than half of their waking hours up and about and be capable of self-care, which includes basic health maintenance, personal hygiene and the ability to follow doctor recommendations. In studies on small groups of patients treated with HIPEC, some people lived five years or longer.
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Omental Mesothelioma
Omental mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that grows in the
omentum, a sheet of fatty tissue in the abdomen that hangs in front of
the intestines like an apron. The omentum protects our organs, stores
nutrients and prevents the spread of infection. The peritoneum covers
the omentum, and both contain mesothelial cells that can turn cancerous
and form tumors.
Peritoneal mesothelioma usually causes omental mesothelioma because the cancer spreads from the peritoneum to the omentum. It's also possible for cancer to develop in the omentum and spread to the peritoneum, but fewer than five cases like this have been reported in medical literature.
Symptoms of both cancers are similar, although someone with omental cancer may experience lower back pain and no other symptoms. Because this kind of cancer is so rare, it is difficult to diagnose and treat. In some cases, surgery and chemotherapy have proved successful.
It's unclear if the prognosis for patients with omental mesothelioma is better, worse or the same as for patients with peritoneal cancer. While there is not much data available on patient outcomes, some evidence suggests a reason for optimism.
In 2009, a patient diagnosed with omental mesothelioma was treated successfully with chemotherapy. When the study was published 14 months after diagnosis, the patient was still alive. In another case reported in 2004, surgeons removed a malignant tumor from the omentum and watched the patient recover and remain in good health for nearly three years.
Peritoneal mesothelioma usually causes omental mesothelioma because the cancer spreads from the peritoneum to the omentum. It's also possible for cancer to develop in the omentum and spread to the peritoneum, but fewer than five cases like this have been reported in medical literature.
Symptoms of both cancers are similar, although someone with omental cancer may experience lower back pain and no other symptoms. Because this kind of cancer is so rare, it is difficult to diagnose and treat. In some cases, surgery and chemotherapy have proved successful.
It's unclear if the prognosis for patients with omental mesothelioma is better, worse or the same as for patients with peritoneal cancer. While there is not much data available on patient outcomes, some evidence suggests a reason for optimism.
In 2009, a patient diagnosed with omental mesothelioma was treated successfully with chemotherapy. When the study was published 14 months after diagnosis, the patient was still alive. In another case reported in 2004, surgeons removed a malignant tumor from the omentum and watched the patient recover and remain in good health for nearly three years.
Additional Resources
Author
Dr. W. Charles Conway
Dr. Conway is a surgical oncologist
who joined the Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans in 2009, taking a
special interest in peritoneal mesothelioma, along with pancreatic,
esophageal and