Malignant Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a form of asbestos cancer that affects the thin tissue layer surrounding the body's internal organs, called the mesothelium. The cancer is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
How Many and What Type of Malignant Mesothelioma Deaths Occurred in 1999.

Medical professionals divide malignant mesothelioma into various types depending on which area of the mesothelium is affected:

* Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of the cancer, affecting the lining of the lungs, called the pleura.
* Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common form of the cancer and develops in the lining of the abdomen, called the peritoneum.
* Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the membrane that surrounds the heart, called the pericardium.
* Testicular mesothelioma is the rarest form of the cancer and develops in the membranous lining surrounding the testicles, called the tunica vaginalis.