There is still no effective therapy for malignant pleural mesothelioma. Left untreated, the average survival time is between four to 13 months. Even with treatment, the average survival is between six to 18 months.In general, MPM (malignant pleural mesothelioma) is a disease confined to the pleural cavity for a long time before metastasizing.
Therefore, focus on local mesothelioma treatment seems rational. Surgical resection has been considered the mainstay of treatment by some. However, surgery alone results in high recurrence rates, and the survival benefit remains questionable. In recent years, the emphasis has been on surgery combined with adjuvant therapies.”
Surgery, used as the primary mesothelioma treatment, in conjunction with adjuvant (secondary) treatments like radiation and chemotherapy make up what is known as multi-modality therapy. This is the current standard of care for the disease.
Pleurodesis is used for the management of persistent shortness of breath that results from pleural effusion, which is the excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleura, the layers of tissue that line the lung and chest cavity. The fluid is completely drained and an irritating agent is introduced into the pleural mesothelioma space that will cause scar tissue to form and block the space so it will not refill with fluid. The most commonly used irritant is sterile, asbestos-free talc, administered either as a powder or slurry (talc mixed in fluid). However, if there is a bulky tumor in the pleural space or the lung is trapped by a thick visceral pleural (the part of the pleural lining covering the lung) peel of tumor, then the procedure will not be very effective.
Surgery, used as the primary mesothelioma treatment, in conjunction with adjuvant (secondary) treatments like radiation and chemotherapy make up what is known as multi-modality therapy. This is the current standard of care for the disease.
Pleurodesis is used for the management of persistent shortness of breath that results from pleural effusion, which is the excessive accumulation of fluid in the pleura, the layers of tissue that line the lung and chest cavity. The fluid is completely drained and an irritating agent is introduced into the pleural mesothelioma space that will cause scar tissue to form and block the space so it will not refill with fluid. The most commonly used irritant is sterile, asbestos-free talc, administered either as a powder or slurry (talc mixed in fluid). However, if there is a bulky tumor in the pleural space or the lung is trapped by a thick visceral pleural (the part of the pleural lining covering the lung) peel of tumor, then the procedure will not be very effective.
No comments:
Post a Comment