Types of Mesothelioma

Depending on where the asbestos fibers become lodged in the body, determines the type of mesothelioma that a person develops. There are three main kinds of mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type. In this case, the asbestos particles have been inhaled and become embedded in the lining of the chest cavity.

Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common form. Here the asbestos particles were swallowed directly or somehow caught up in the mucous in the trachea and swallowed that way. They have traveled down to the stomach and become embedded in the abdominal wall.

Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest form of this disease and is responsible for less than 10% of the patients diagnosed with mesothelioma. The pericardium is the sac of tissue covering the heart and the base of the main blood vessels. It's unknown for sure how the particles make their way to the chest region but the current theory believes the particles are somewhat broken down by the body and are possibly carried via the bloodstreams into the heart where they become embedded in the pericardium.