Types of Mesothelioma

Depending on which part of the body and what organ is affected, doctors have classified the types of mesothelioma. These are:

Pleural Mesothelioma: The most common type of mesothelioma that affects the linings of the lungs or pleura. Nearly 75% of all cases affected by mesothelioma are cases of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Symptoms are often confused with other diseases of the lungs such as lung cancer or viral pneumonia. However, further testing will determine whether the malignancy is affecting the lung tissue (lung cancer) or the lining (mesothelioma). Symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include chronic chest pain, continuous cough, shortness of breath, and fever.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma: Cancer of the abdominal cavity, peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of mesothelioma. This condition is generally caused by ingestion of asbestos particles. Symptoms include swelling and pain in the abdomen, anemia, fever, and blood clotting problems.
Pericardia Mesothelioma: A rare form of the disease, the symptoms of pericardial mesothelioma or cancer of the heart sac include pain in the chest, chronic cough, breathing difficulties, and irregular heartbeat.
Mesothelioma of the Tunica Vaginitis Testis: This is the least common type of mesothelioma and affects the lining around the testes. Most patients with this type of cancer tend to be in their 50s or older and suffer from symptoms such as hernia and hydrocele (where a fluid filled sac develops around a testicle).