Mesothelioma in Turkey - 2

It is declared that a virus named as SV can be connected to development of mesothelioma in studies carried out in recent years.

What are symptoms and findings of mesothelioma?

Because of the fact that disease mostly causes the pleurisy which is accumulation of fluid, generally first symptoms are back, chest and side pains. At first the pain while breathing is stinging character, but gradually intensity of pain increases and gains continuity. As a consequence of increasing fluid quantity accumulating in pleural cavity, patient has shortness of breath. Apart from this; there can also be symptoms such as cough, rarely clubbing and in relation to prevalence of the disease abdominal distention and abdominal pain.

Diagnostic approach in mesothelioma?

In examination of patient saw the doctor with above-mentioned complaints, it is determined that breath sounds decreased on the diseased side and generally the diseased side of chest  was slightly reduced in proportion to the healthy side of chest. And the shoulder is lower on diseased side. In standard chest radiography and computed tomographic examination, it is seen that fluid accumulated in pleural cavity and lung membrane was thicken to wrap the lung such as an armor.

Some of fluid is examined by taken from patient determined the fluid in his/her pleural cavity by using radiological methods. Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be made in rare cases as a consequence of determined tumor cells in the fluid. But usually a piece of tissue is needed for definitive diagnosis. Biopsy can be performed by methods such as closed pleural biopsy, open pleural biopsy or thoracoscopic biopsy.(see pleurisy)

Treatment

Following the diagnosis of mesothelioma made by examination of biopsy specimen, treatment planning should be made. There are three types of mesothelioma – epithelial, sarcomatous(or sarcomatoid) and mixed(or biphasic). While chemotherapy and radiotherapy are performed in sarcomatous and mixed types mesothelioma, on the other hand options such as metastasis to opposite lung or other distant tissue and organs or else surgical treatment are available in epithelial type mesothelioma. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy should also be performed in the patient after the surgical intervention.