What is pleural mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that accounts for less than 1% of all malignant diseases. It 'a cancer that affects the mesothelium, the thin tissue that lines most of the internal organs. The most frequent form is the one that affects the pleura, the mesothelium that covers the lungs and the inner wall of the chest. More rare are themesothelioma of the peritoneum (mesothelium lining of the abdominal cavity) and the testes .Typically, the tumor develops due to genetic alterations in the cells of the mesothelium, which lead to an uncontrolled growth of the cells themselves. The underlying cause of this process has not yet been clarified.
What are the risk factors?
The most important risk factor for mesothelioma is represented by exposure to asbestos : the majority of these tumors in fact relates to people who have come into contact with this substance, at home or in the workplace, or who live with people who the work. Asbestos is a mineral that, for its particular heat resistance, has been widely used in the past for the shell and the insulation of roofs (in a material known as Eternit), ships and trains; buildings (tiles, flooring, paint ...), in suits of firefighters, in cars (mechanical components and paints) and in other areas. When this ore is fragmented, for example during the process of mining or removal of the insulating material, it produces a powder which, if inhaled, can damage the mesothelial cells, causing in some cases the tumor, even decades after the exposure. Other risk factors for mesothelioma are:
- a monkey virus, SV40, used in polio vaccinations between 1955 and 1963
- a radioactive substance thorium dioxide, which is used between the '20s and the '50s;
- radiation to the chest and abdomen
- cases of mesothelioma in the family.
How can you prevent pleural mesothelioma?
The best primary prevention is to avoid exposure to asbestos.
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