Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma is the most common and most aggressive of all mesotheliomas. It is most commonly found in Caucasian men over the age of fifty. Occupations most often associated with the development of mesothelioma can include asbestos miners, factory workers, such as insulation factory workers, railroad workers, ship builders, automotive workers, and workers in the heating and construction industries.

Although a rare cancer, malignant pleural mesothelioma is one of the most aggressive. It can lie dormant for decades but once pleural mesothelioma takes hold it moves quickly and aggressively. Although mesothelioma can be defined as both cancerous (malignant) or benign (non-cancerous), and can be further defined by its location…pleural, pericardial or peritoneal, for the purposes of this article we will be discussing only malignant pleural mesothelioma. Both pericardial mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma will be discussed in additional articles.

Malignant pleural mesothelioma affects the mesothelium lining between the lungs and the ribs. This cancer is found in the cells of the pleura or lining surrounding the outside of the lungs and the inside of the ribs. Workers exposed to asbestos are most at risk for the development of malignant mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure that occurred over twenty or thirty years ago is a primary factor in the development of malignant pleural mesothelioma. It is actually the exposure to the asbestos fibers that are either inhaled or swallowed that ultimately cause the problem. The asbestos fibers work their way into the smaller parts of the lungs where they lie dormant until they begin to cause problems.