Biphasic Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer defined by the presence of malignant cancer cells in the tissues called the pleura that surround the chest cavity and cover the lungs. The cancer cells can also be located in the peritoneum, which is the tissue that lines the abdomen and the organs in the abdomen as well as in the lining of the heart, the pericardium. This type of cancer is very rare.

Those at risk for malignant mesothelioma are people who may have inhaled asbestos in the work place or in their home, or those who lived with people who worked near asbestos. Most cases of mesothelioma are not diagnosed until late in the patient’s life since it can take as long as 20 to 50 years before symptoms occur. Some of the symptoms are difficulty breathing, weight loss, lumps in the area of the abdomen, pain beneath the ribs, and swelling or pain in the abdomen.
Diagnosing the Disease

Mesothelioma is diagnosed through physical exams and the use of imaging tests. Other tests performed include blood counts, bronchoscopy, sedimentation rate, and biopsies. The cells of malignant mesothelioma are put into three histological categories – epithelial mesothelioma, biphasic mesothelioma, and sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
Malignant Biphasic Mesothelioma

One of the major types of malignant mesothelioma is the biphasic type. Malignant biphasic mesothelioma accounts for 46 to 63 percent of all cases of malignant mesothelioma. It is a mix of the other two mesothelioma cancer subtypes, epithelioid and sarcomatoid. Since it has the two distinctly different mesothelioma cell types, it is easier to diagnose. When a person is diagnosed with this version of the cancer, they are actually being diagnosed with both sarcomatoid and epithelial mesothelioma.