Pericardial mesothelioma develops in the membrane that surrounds the heart, also known as the pericardium. This is a very rare form of mesothelioma, occurring in only 1 to 5 percent of cases. This form of mesothelioma is also very difficult to treat.
Symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma include irregular heartbeat or palpitations, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. These are caused by the pressure put on the heart by the build-up of fluid in the spaces between pericardial membrane layers.
It is very rare for pericardial mesothelioma to be diagnosed early enough for any form of treatment to be effective, and pericardial mesothelioma patients typically have an extremely poor prognosis. In very rare cases, the cancer may be diagnosed early enough for surgery to have a positive effect; however, the proximity of this cancer to the heart makes such surgery a high-risk mesothelioma treatment option.
No comments:
Post a Comment