| Thoracentesis for Pleural Mesothelioma: Who will Benefit More and Who is Most at Risk for Complications? Pleural effusions, one of the primary symptoms of pleural mesothelioma, can cause a considerable amount of discomfort and often require palliative treatment. These effusions are typically treated by a thoracentesis - a short procedure that drains excess fluid and relieves pressure on the lungs. While the procedure can help alleviate respiratory distress caused by the effusions and benefits many patients, it is not entirely free of potential complications. A 2010 study sought to identify patients who would benefit the most from the procedure and present the smallest risk of side effects. Of 446 participants, including a number of malignant mesothelioma patients, the incidence of pneumothorax, or a collapsed lung, was "significantly lower" in the patients whose procedure was guided by an ultrasound. An ultrasound allows the doctor to identify the appropriate site and more accurately perform the thoracentesis. Patients with exudative (protein-rich) pleural effusions were found to have a higher risk of post-operative complications when compared to patients with transudative (watery) effusions. Of 208 participants with exudative effusions, 13 experienced one or more complications. The remainder of the patients had transudative effusions, and only three developed side effects from the procedure. Asbestos-related diseases typically cause exudative effusions. Another factor that increased a patient's risk of complications following the procedure was the presence of symptoms from the patient's primary disease. The procedure led to complications for only one asymptomatic patient (out of 328 total), while 15 of 118 symptomatic patients developed complications. During a thoracentesis, a doctor will insert a slim tube into the pleural cavity and extract the excess fluid. The entire procedure takes approximately 15 minutes, and most potential complications emerge within a few hours after the treatment. Most patients remain at the facility where the procedure was performed for several hours to monitor any side effects. The most common complication of a thoracentesis is a collapsed lung. Additional side effects can include pain, bruising and bleeding at the insertion site. These mild complications are easily treated and are typically not a cause for major medical concern. Infection and liver injury have also been noted after thoracentesis, yet the incidence rates for these conditions are rare. Additional information on mesothelioma and other common treatment options may be found through the Mesothelioma Center. |
| Renal Cancer Drug can be Used as New Treatment for Mesothelioma In a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Thoracic Oncology, temsirolimus, a drug that is used to treat kidney cancer, has shown positive results when treating pleural mesothelioma cells. |
| Reduced Gene Expression Indicative of Mesothelioma Cell Death and Response to Treatment Although mesothelioma can be difficult to treat, for patients with early-stage cancer certain therapies may effectively reduce their tumors. To help predict a mesothelioma patient's potential response to treatment, a recent study examined the expression levels of four unique genes that appear to be involved in mesothelioma development. |
| Asbestos and Ovarian Cancer: Is There a Link and How Involved is Peritoneal Mesothelioma? Classified as a human carcinogen, asbestos is responsible for the development of several cancers, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Research has suggested that a number of other cancers such as gastrointestinal, kidney, throat and gallbladder cancer can be caused by exposure to asbestos, but they are still the subject of investigation. A 2011 study conducted by the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research sought to explore the correlation between asbestos and ovarian cancer. |
| Protein Content of Asbestos-Exposed and Malignant Mesothelioma Cells may Indicate Disease Although the scientific and medical industries have conclusively agreed that mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, the process by which asbestos fibers cause the rare cancer is still under investigation. A 2011 experiment published in Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis sought to identify the molecular markers that play a role in the formation and development of mesothelioma. |
| Metastatic Risk After Diagnostic Surgery for Mesothelioma Although surgery is often used to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, certain post-operative developments can complicate the procedure. Metastases to the chest tract is one of the most common and dangerous complications. |
| PET-CT Scan Preferred in the Diagnosis of Mesothelioma A number of imaging scans and blood tests have been developed to identify mesothelioma. Certain studies, such as a 2011 article published by the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Catholic University in Rome, Italy, indicate that the PET-CT scan may increase the accuracy of mesothelioma staging during diagnosis. |
| ADAO Lights a Candle for Workers' Memorial Day On April 28, the Asbestos Disease and Awareness Organization (ADAO) will recognize Workers' Memorial Day through their Light a Candle program. The program encourages people to light a candle or do so through their website to honor loved ones who are fighting or have lost their fight against asbestos-related diseases. As of April 26, 2011, over 11 million candles have been lit in a total of 243 countries. |
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