Testicular mesothelioma Caused By Exposure to Asbestos
Free Chest X-Ray EvaluationTesticular mesothelioma or mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis testis is the rarest form of asbestos-related cancer. Mesothelioma is a rare cancer affecting around 3,000 people per year in the United States and approximately 100 cases of testicular mesothelioma have been reported so far, although some other cases may have been either misdiagnosed or undiagnosed. This cancer affects the membrane lining that covers the testicles.
Because testicular mesothelioma is so rare, there is little research in this field. Among the most common reported symptoms are:
In order to diagnose testicular mesothelioma, a doctor, after examining the patient, will ask for an ultrasound to be performed. If a tumor is noticed, a CT scan will be done to establish the stage of the cancer and if it has spread. Blood tests may determine if the tumor is testicular mesothelioma. The most precise way to diagnose this rare type of cancer is performing a biopsy.
If diagnosed early, the testicular mesothelioma can be treated by surgical removal of a part or the whole affected testicle. Chemotherapy and radiation treatments may also be used. At a later stage, the cancer is incurable and the palliative treatment is the only option. Often, the tumors in the testicles are the consequence of the tumors that originate in the peritoneum and have spread to testes in which case the treatment becomes more complex. It is likely for this cancer to recur within a few years including in cases where the tumor has been surgically removed.