What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body’s internal organs.

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is almost always caused by previous exposure to asbestos.Its most common site is the pleura (outer lining of the lungs and chest cavity), but it may also occur in
the peritoneum (the lining of the abdominal cavity) or the pericardium(a sac that surrounds the heart).





They are invasive and can damage nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also metastasize (spread) from their original site to other parts of the body.

image from www.pathologistsassistants.ca

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What is the mesothelium

The mesothelium is a membrane that forms the lining of several body cavities:

  • the pleura (thoracal cavity),
  • peritoneum (abdominal cavity)
  • and pericardium (heart sac).


Mesothelial tissue also surrounds the :
  • male internal reproductive organs (the tunica vaginalis testis)
  • and covers the internal reproductive organs of women (the tunica serosa uteri).
Mesothelium has two types-the one that covers the internal organs is called visceral mesothelium, while the layer that covers the body walls is called the parietal mesothelium.The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily against adjacent structures.




The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the mesothelial tissue that covers most of the organs in the abdominal cavity. The pleura is the membrane that surrounds the lungs and lines the wall of the chest cavity. The pericardium covers and protects the heart



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