Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Outlook.: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Future Outlook.
Disclaimer:
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. Content is sourced from third parties, and we do not guarantee accuracy or accept any liability for its use. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical guidance.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer from mesothelial cells lining the pleura (80%, pleural), peritoneum (10-20%), pericardium, or tunica vaginalis. Epithelioid (60%, better prognosis), sarcomatoid (20%, aggressive), or biphasic subtypes. In 2025, ~3,000 US cases, linked to asbestos, median age 72, men 4:1.
Symptoms
Pleural mesothelioma causes chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, pleural effusion, fatigue, weight loss, night sweats. Peritoneal causes abdominal pain, ascites, bowel obstruction. Symptoms develop 20-50 years post-exposure, mimicking pneumonia or IBS.
Causes
Asbestos exposure (70-80% of cases) causes inflammation/mutations (BAP1, NF2). Radiation, erionite, or genetics (BAP1 syndrome) contribute. In 2025, genomic studies show immune evasion.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis uses imaging (CT, PET for pleural thickening/effusion), biopsy (thoracoscopy/percutaneous), immunohistochemistry (calretinin+, WT1+), and molecular testing (BAP1 loss). In 2025, liquid biopsies detect ctDNA.
Treatment
Multimodal: surgery (pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy), chemotherapy (pemetrexed + cisplatin), radiation. Immunotherapy (nivolumab + ipilimumab) is first-line, with 40% response. In 2025, ADCs target mesothelin.
Future Outlook
In 2025, median survival is 12-21 months, 5-year 10%. Immunotherapy extends to 18 months. By 2030, vaccines and gene therapy could achieve 30% 5-year survival.
Sources
Mayo Clinic’s “Mesothelioma – Symptoms and causes” for symptoms; Cleveland Clinic’s “Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment” for treatment; NCI’s “Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment” for prognosis; PMC’s “Mesothelioma: An Update on Diagnosis and Treatment” for updates; OncoDaily’s “Mesothelioma: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment” for details; American Lung Association’s “Mesothelioma Symptoms, Causes and Risk Factors” for risks; Cancer Research UK’s “Mesothelioma” for research; Asbestos’s “Mesothelioma Symptoms” for symptoms; Mesothelioma.com’s “Mesothelioma” for overview; Healthline’s “Mesothelioma: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis” for diagnosis.