What is mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that starts in cells of the mesothelium. The
mesothelium is the
The mesothelium has different names depending on where it is in the body. The
mesothelium that lines the
The mesothelium is made up of mesothelial cells. These cells sometimes change and no longer behave or grow normally. These changes may lead to non-cancerous (benign) tumours, such as a fibrous tumour of the pleura. But in some cases, changes to mesothelial cells can cause mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a very rare type of cancer. It usually starts in the pleura, which is called pleural mesothelioma. This type of cancer makes up 75% to 80% of all mesotheliomas.
Cancer can also start in the peritoneum, which is called peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of cancer makes up about 8% of all mesotheliomas.
Even rarer types of mesothelioma can also develop. Pericardial mesothelioma starts in the membrane that surrounds the heart. Tunica vaginalis starts in the membrane that surrounds each testicle.
The mesothelium
Types of mesothelioma
Non-cancerous tumours of the mesothelium
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