Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that can develop in the linings of the chest or belly.

What is going on in the body?

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that is almost always linked with exposure to asbestos. It is frequently found in the lining that surrounds the lungs, called the pleura. Mesothelioma can also affect:

There may be one or more tumors. They can grow to a large size and may invade neighboring tissues. These tissues can include the chest wall, heart surface, diaphragm, liver, abdominal and pelvic organs, or blood vessels and nerves. The tumor can also spread through the blood to other organs such as the liver.

What are the causes and risks of the disease?

Eliminating exposure to asbestos is the best way to prevent mesothelioma. People who have mined, milled, or worked with asbestos are at high risk for this disease. Laborers who work with plumbing, boilers, or other heating equipment that uses asbestos are also at risk. Others who do not work directly with asbestos but are in the area where the substance is being used are also at risk. This may include carpenters, electricians, or welders. People who live with asbestos workers, such as spouses and children, also have a higher risk of mesothelioma.

It takes 30 to 40 years from the time of asbestos exposure for mesothelioma to develop. This cancer is diagnosed in roughly 2,000 people in the U.S. each year. The rate is expected to go down, since the asbestos industry has been regulated for many years. Since the primary means of exposure has been due to working with asbestos, the rate of this cancer is three to five times higher in men than in women. The disease is extremely rare in children.

Mesothelioma also has been linked to exposure to silicate-type minerals in other parts of the world.