What Is Peritoneal Mesothelioma?

Peritoneal mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in the lining of your abdomen. Most instances of mesothelioma occur in the pleura, or tissue lining the lungs, and are known as pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs when mesothelial cancer forms in the peritoneum, or the tissue surrounding the abdominal wall. Of the 3,000 cases a year of mesothelioma in the United States, peritoneal mesothelioma diagnoses will account for approximately one out of five cases.

There is no cure for peritoneal mesothelioma, however treatments exist to extend lifespan and to increase quality of life. These treatments include surgery to resect the tumor from the abdomen, chemotherapy, radiation therpay, treatment to drain the abdomen of any fluid buildup and other advanced treatments.

Cancer is frequently staged into one of four stages. Pleural mesothelioma is staged using a TNM system, however the uniqueness of peritoneal mesothelioma and differing prognosis for each case has limited efforts to create a staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma. The plueral staging is:

Stage 1 Mesothelioma means a small localized tumor (T1) without spread to lymph nodes (N0) or other organs (M0).

Stage 2 Mesothelioma means the tumor is local but has progressed further into tissue/organs (T2).

Stage 3 describes the spread either deeply into local tissue (T3), or adjacent lymph nodes (N1).

Stage 4, the most serious, is reserved for cases where there is massive local invasion (T4), or distant cancer movement (N2, N3 or M1).

While peritoneal mesothelioma may not be classically staged using the TNM system, currently doctors are proposing a staging system that can apply directly to peritoneal mesothelioma. It would follow the general TNM criteria of evaluating the local and distant involvement of the cancer. Cancers contained locally would be Stage 1, cancers beginning to spread locally into organs or lymph nodes would be Stage 2. Stage 3 would signify more advanced cancers that could still be potentially targeted for surgical treatment, and Stage 4 would be reserved for advanced cases where surgery is not longer possible due to growth into organs or cancer spreading throughout the body.

When Do You Need a Peritoneal Mesothelioma Lawyer?

Peritoneal mesothelioma like all mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. There is no known alternative cause of peritoneal mesothelioma. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you were exposed to asbestos. The investigators at Levin Simes Abrams can determine from your work and home history what products exposed you and whom made them. The attorneys at Levin Simes Abrams are experienced mesothelioma trial lawyers who can proceed with a mesothelioma lawsuit on your behalf. Contact Levin Simes Abrams today at (415) 426-3000 or info@levinsimes.com.