Mesothelioma Latency Period, History of Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma Latency Period

Doctors visitThe period of time between a person's exposure to asbestos fibers and the development of mesothelioma is referred to as its latency period. There are several asbestos-related diseases, but mesothelioma has the longest latency period. Typically 35 to 40 years will pass between exposure and diagnosis; however, cases have been diagnosed in as little as 10 or as many as 50 years after exposure.

As a general rule, the greater the asbestos exposure, the shorter the latency period. The average age of a patient diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma is between 40 and 69. In patients diagnosed under age 40, usually childhood exposure has occurred. Mesothelioma in a child is so rare that medical professionals have blamed environmental exposure.
Additional Considerations

The long latency period of mesothelioma is a huge contributing factor to the poor prognosis associated with the disease. As with all forms of cancer, the earlier mesothelioma is discovered means a better opportunity for treatment. Unfortunately, like cancers such as ovarian and other lung cancers, mesothelioma symptoms are typically silent until the advanced stages.

Mesothelioma can initially manifest in a variety of body areas. Pleural mesothelioma (lungs) has a 35-year latency period, while peritoneal mesothelioma (abdomen) has a latency period of 28 years. Although exposure times can vary, the median duration of exposure associated with peritoneal mesothelioma is 11 years, while the exposure time associated with pleural mesothelioma is only 5.