Peritoneal Mesothelioma, Mesothelioma Diagnosis

The following are some of the most commonly used surgerical treatments of mesothelioma:
PleurodesisUsed to treat pleural mesothelioma, pleurodesis is a surgical procedure that introduces an irritant into the pleural space that creates inflammation. This inflammation effectively eliminates the pleural space, thus preventing fluid build up, or a pleural effusion.

Generally used when the pleural effusion is symptomatic, pleurodesis is a treatment administered through a thoracoscopy or existing chest tube. Talc is used most commonly and effectively for this procedure, thus it is often referred to as "talcing" or as a patient having been "talced."

This procedure is a common reaction to a pleural effusion, but can limit other treatment options. Pleurodesis is best utilized among mesothelioma patients decline other, more aggressive treatment options or who are not candidates for them.
Pleurectomy or Peritonectomy

Surgery to remove part of the chest (pleura) or abdomen lining (peritoneum) and some of the tissue surrounding it. This procedure is performed for a variety of disorders including pleural effusion, malignant mesothelioma, and trauma.

Peritonectomy
    Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (abdominal mesothelioma) is sometimes treated surgically with the removal of the peritoneum. In addition to a peritonectomy, tumor debulking or cytoreduction surgery may also be performed to remove cancerous tumor masses.TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)


In treating pleural mesothelioma, sometimes part of the diaphragm, the muscle below the lungs that helps with breathing, is also removed during surgery because the diaphragm is so connected to the pleura (mesothelial lining of the lungs). Depending on how far the cancer has spread, a lung also may be removed (pneumonectomy).