Types of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is divided into different types depending on where it occurs in the body. Each type has different symptoms and different treatment options. About 75% of cases are pleural mesothelioma, which develops in the pleural lining of the lungs. Another 10 to 20% of cases are peritoneal mesothelioma, which occurs in the lining of the abdominal cavity, or peritoneum. Very rarely, mesothelioma may also develop in the pericardial lining of the heart, or the tunica vaginalis surrounding the testicles.
The treatment a patient receives will depend on the type of mesothelioma that has been diagnosed. Treating physicians will also determine the stage of the disease as this also has important implications as far as treatment options are concerned.
Mesothelioma can also be classified by the type of cancer cell. The cell type may be epithelial, sarcomatoid, or a mix of the two (known as biphasic). The majority of mesotheliomas are epithelial, and the epithelial type is somewhat easier to treat.
It is also important to note that there are some benign tumors of the mesothelium. These tumors are typically removed by surgery with no further treatment.