Peritoneal mesothelioma attacks the peritoneum, a tissue in the abdomen. This type of mesothelioma accounts for 10%, or up to 20% of all mesothelioma cases. It is different from the most common form of mesothelioma, which attacks the pleura, a garrison of tissue in the chest. The symptoms are different, and prognosis is also different. However, as with all types of mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma is often attributed to exposure to asbestos, the mineral carcinogen used widely in the years before stringent regulations were imposed in the 80s.
Case of Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Between 100 and 500 cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Almost all individuals who are diagnosed with this cancer have a history of exposure to asbestos. In many cases, pleural mesothelioma (chest) may extend into the peritoneal cavity, but this still would be a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma (which has metastasized), is not considered a case of peritoneal mesothelioma that begins in the peritoneum.
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