What Is Pericardial Mesothelioma?

Pericardial mesothelioma evolves in the thin membrane that surrounds the heart known also as pericardium. The membrane has two zones, an outer one called parietal layer theca cords or heart sac and an inner zone known as epicardium or visceral layer.

Pericardial Mesothelioma is the rarest asbestos-related disease. There are just a few treatment options due to the heart lining, which is exactly where the tumors develop, still, there are a few cases in which a surgical intervention can help remove those tumors. Just like all the other types of mesothelioma, the disease develops after a long period of time, one to five decades and is usually discovered at its last stage.

Pericardial mesothelioma prognosis:

• 25% of pericardial mesothelioma victims survive 3 years
• only 6 months if the disease is left untreated 

According to the American Cancer Society, pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer that affects less than 10% of the mesothelioma cases.

Diagnosis of Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma can be easily confused with cardiac tamponade, cardiac failure, and constrictive pericarditis, therefore speaking to an expert is absolutely vital in order to obtain an accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment.

It is also vital to disclose any exposure to asbestos to assist the doctor in deciding the further investigations.

For an accurate diagnosis the following tests may be carried out:

• Echocardiogram to determine if there is any pericardial effusion and how well the heart performs;
• X-ray, CT-scan or MRI to identify any tumors and their location;
• Pericardiocentesis to determine whether the fluid from the sac around the heart contains any cancer cells;
• Pericardioscopy to examine the tissue surrounding the heart on which occasion a tissue sample may be taken for biopsies.