Cause of mesothelioma and affected regions :

Let’s study what mesothelioma is and the factors that lead to its cause. Its a type of cancer in the most rarest of forms, also termed as Malignant mesothelioma, mainly caused by prolonged inhaling of air contaminated with very tiny particles of asbestos. The cancer formation can be located mainly in the pleural vicinity (a layer which encloses the outer region of the lungs and inner lining of chest wall). It is also known to be formed on the cell membrane lining abdominal cavity (biologically termed as peritoneum). Even the regions surrounding the heart that is shaped like a sac get affected by mesothelioma.  

                                                                     this picture exhibits the worst case of pleural mesothelioma

Every year thousands of people employed in jobs related with asbestos, especially in the US and the UK get affected by this rare type of cancer. There’s a high risk of contraction by other members of family living along with this individual. Asbestos dust cannot be easily traced while washing the worker’s clothing and there are chances of it entering into the lungs of cloth washer due to breathing. Lung cancer and mesothelioma are totally different types of cancer. Studies on this rare type of cancer has exposed that smoking is not the actual culprit behind this cancer. Smoking hastens multiplication and spreading of these cancerous cells in all directions. The tumor formed by gathering of these mesothelioma infected cells hinder the functioning of other organs surrounding it, and also if not treated may end in death of the affected person due to organ failure.

Mesothelioma as such cannot be cured. Only one out of six in the rarest of the rare cases tested positive with this rare type of cancer can live for an year or two. Early and exact diagnosis of this horrifying disease and corresponding surgery and chemotherapy can destroy the infected areas and therefore control the multiplication of cancerous cells. Thus, rapid multiplication of infected mesothelial cells leading to the enlarged  tumor can be avoided. 

Before heading to the in-depth understanding of what mesothelioma is, its cause, treatment and other factors, we shall study in this article what mesothelium is and how important it is for the organs inside the human body.    

We all know that skin is the largest organ in human body and it covers and protects us externally. In the same way, mesothelium is a non-adhesive slippery double layered cell membrane that runs along various body cavities and organs within the human body. One layer of mesothelium packs around the organs while the other one forms a sac like lining covering the first layer, and a lubricating liquid flows in between those layers for easy gliding. This allows heart to easily glide over surrounding organs during heartbeat and lungs while breathing. Basically these cells line the thoracic cavity, abdominal cavity and the heart sac biologically termed as the pericardium and act as protective layer. 

In this picture, we can observe the mesothelium lining. A thin layer formed on the walls of artery and veins

Role of mesothelium:

1)   Help in movement of various fluids across the serosal cavity.

2)   Repairing of tissues and inflammation

3)   Protection of internal organs

4)   Mesothelium helps in lubrication and thereby allows easy movement of organs like the lungs during breathing. 

If the mesothelium cell lining gets slightly damaged, the mesothelial cells are automatically transported from the side edges of the lesion to the center of the wound. This portion gets healed. On the other end, if membrane repair doesn't occur then it leads to formation of fibrous serosal adhesions between the organ and the body wall which in turn disrupts the normal abdominal movement due to intrathoracic impediment. Malignant mesothelioma is caused by the tumor formed by complete change in the structure of mesothelial cells at the pleura.