What is Peritoneal Mesothelioma?
This type of cancer is found in the abdomen in a thin membrane called the peritoneum. Peritoneal mesothelioma is usually a rapidly fatal primary peritoneal surface malignancy with a median survival time of less than 1 year, mainly because of lack of effective treatment. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a tumor of this membrane. Symptoms include abdominal swelling, loss of appetite, and weakness. The only known cause of this disease is exposure to asbestos. Due to the latency effect of this cancer, this exposure is likely to have taken place 20 or more years ago. This type of mesothelioma is less common and is found in fewer than 25% of all mesothelioma cases. Like pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma can be either benign or malignant.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma Symptoms
When the symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma appear, they typically include abdominal pains, abdominal weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea, and abdominal swelling. Fluid often accumulates in the peritoneal space, a condition known as ascites. Over time the wasting symptoms can become more and more severe. The growing tumor can exert increasing pressure on the organs in the abdomen, leading to bowel obstruction and distention. If the tumor presses upward, it can impair breathing capacity. If the tumor pushes against areas with many nerve fibers, and the bowel distends, the amount of pain can increase.
