How much do you know about pericardial mesothelioma ?

Pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare form of mesothelioma. It affects the pericardium, which is a very thin lining of tissue that surrounds the heart.

Symptoms tend to be similar to other forms of cancer but the most common are heart palpitations. As with any form of cancer, early detection is important. Surgery can have extremely effective results if found early enough. Unfortunately, pericardial mesothelioma is diagnosed often too late, leading to a low survival rate in patients stricken with the illness. Due to the usually tardive detection, prognosis can have disappointing results, anything from 6 weeks to 15 months.

If left untreated, pericardial mesothelioma can lead to cardiac arrest, due to the the unnatural constriction of the heart - which arises from an expanded pericardium.

If you have been exposed to asbestos in the past, and are still asymptomatic, it would best best to visit a doctor, preferably a cardiologist. They can then check for any irregularities.

Please do take some time and browse some of our articles concerning pericardial mesothelioma as they contain a wealth of information that may not be mentioned on this page. I've also included some on mesothelioma in general.