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Sub-Category:

Malignancies

Number of Conditions: 1

Pleural Mesothelioma

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Pleural Diseases

Sub-category: Malignancies

Symptoms:
chest pain; shortness of breath; persistent cough; unexplained weight loss; fatigue; pleural effusion (fluid buildup)

Root Cause:
A rare, aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure, originating in the pleura (lining of the lungs).

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosed through imaging studies (chest X-ray, CT, PET scans), biopsy of pleural tissue, and blood tests for biomarkers like mesothelin.

Treatment:
Multimodal treatment includes surgery (e.g., pleurectomy/decortication or extrapleural pneumonectomy), chemotherapy (e.g., cisplatin with pemetrexed), and radiation therapy.

Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin (a platinum-based agent) and pemetrexed (an antifolate agent) are commonly used. Immunotherapy agents like nivolumab may also be considered.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, with approximately 2,500 to 3,000 new cases annually in the U.S.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Prolonged asbestos exposure, older age, male gender, smoking (synergistic risk with asbestos).

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Poor, with a median survival of 12-21 months post-diagnosis; earlier stages have better outcomes.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Respiratory failure, metastasis, pleural effusion, and severe chest pain.