Biphasic malignant mesothelioma - Diagnosing the disease - Additional Methods of Treatment

Biphasic malignant mesothelioma  - Diagnosing the disease - Additional Methods of Treatment

Biphasic Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that is defined by the presence of malignant cells membrane called pleura, located next to the chest cavity covering the lungs. Cancer cells can also be located in the peritoneum, which is the tissue surrounding the abdominal organs and it, as well as the membrane of the heart, the pericardium. Is this type of cancer is very rare.

Those at risk of malignant mesothelioma are people who somehow have inhaled asbestos in their work at home, or those who lived with people who worked around asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed late and when they are past 20 or 50 years before the first symptoms appear. Some of these symptoms are shortness of breath, weight loss, lumps in the abdomen, pain under the ribs, and swelling or pain in the abdomen.

Biphasic malignant mesothelioma

One of the main forms of malignant mesothelioma is biphasic manner. The biphasic malignant mesothelioma accounts for 30 to 40% of cases of malignant mesothelioma. It is a mixture of two other forms of mesothelioma, epithelial and sarcomatoid. When a person is diagnosed with this disease will be diagnosed with both mesothelioma, epithelial and sarcomatoid.

Diagnosing the disease

Mesothelioma is diagnosed through medical tests and the use of imaging tests. Other tests that may be performed include blood tests, bronchoscopy and biopsy. Malignant mesothelioma cells are classified into three categories-histological epithelial mesothelioma, biphasic mesothelioma and sarcomatoid mesothelioma.

biphasic mesotheliomaFor the specific form of biphasic mesothelioma to diagnose it properly, you must rule out the case of other cancers that contain similar characteristics as synovial sarcomas and carcinomas. To do this, there are techniques to identify and label specific proteins that exist in cells, such as immunohistochemical test that can be performed to distinguish this disease compared to other forms of cancer.

Since the cells are very small and both the sarcomatoid cells and epithelial cells have the ability to be present in different areas of the tumor is difficult to diagnose and detect biphasic mesothelioma. Given this knowledge, the best way to get a correct diagnosis, to assess the substantial amount of tissue that is affected. Take a sample, similar to that taken in the biopsy is a good way to determine the type of tumor.

Treating the disease

The treatment of malignant mesothelioma is biphasic different from other more simple types since it will vary depending on the ratio of sarcomatoid epithelial cells are present. Since sarcomatoid are typically more aggressive than epithelial, patients diagnosed with biphasic mesothelioma with low levels of sarcomatoid cells tend to have better results. There are two types of treatment:

Traditional treatments - Traditional treatments include chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. These treatments are usually combined to achieve better results and increase life expectancy. The chosen combination of treatments will depend on the stage of the cancer.
The type of surgery that will be performed for the treatment of malignant mesothelioma include drastic procedures such as removal of the affected part of the lung and the chest layer surrounding . Less drastic is the procedure drain fluid around the lungs and can cause pain and pressure.

New treatments- Some new treatments for mesothelioma include gene therapy, immunotherapy and photodynamic therapy, new chemotherapy agents and radiation therapy modulated. Currently these treatments are not as successful as traditional treatments but over time as more are developed to achieve those results

Additional Methods of Treatment

Along with the new forms of treatment mentioned above, are being tested for other more radical biphasic therapies such as angiogenesis, malignant mesothelioma treatment interferon and interleukin therapy as well as many clinical trials. Research is studying the effectiveness of alternative approaches, such as the use of herbs, special diets, acupuncture, homeopathic medicine, large doses of vitamin C and therapeutic massages.