Benign Mesothelioma

The word mesothelioma is a chilling one because it typically means an aggressive and deadly asbestos cancer that begins in the lining of the lungs or abdomen and quickly spreads throughout the body. Benign mesothelioma, on the other hand, refers to a tumor in the mesothelial lining of the lungs or abdomen that is not malignant, or cancerous, and does not spread.
Benign mesothelioma accounts for less than 10% of all diagnosed mesothelioma cases and offers a much better prognosis.

How does Benign Mesothelioma Form?

Asbestos is usually the overwhelming cause of cancerous forms of mesothelioma. In benign mesothelioma, however, asbestos exposure may or may not be the cause.
Healthy cells multiply and divide at a normal rate that preserves the integrity of the organ or tissue. Tumors form when, for any number of reasons including genetics or exposure to a dangerous substance, cells begin to multiply at an abnormal rate and pile up on each other. This pile up produces a mass or tumor that can grow large and crowd organs, impairing their function. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign).
In the case of benign mesothelioma, non-cancerous cells in or under the mesothelial lining of the lungs or abdomen begin to multiply abnormally. When this happens in the mesothelial lining around the lung walls, called the pleura, the condition is called "benign pleural mesothelioma" or "solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura." When this happens in the mesothelial lining in the abdomen area, or peritoneum, the condition is called "benign peritoneal mesothelioma" or "solitary fibrous tumor of the peritoneum."

Diagnosis and Treatment

Like malignant mesothelioma, benign mesothelioma may take some time to be diagnosed after symptoms begin. This is because early symptoms often mimic conditions such as the cold or flu.

Symptoms

The symptoms of benign mesothelioma are similar to the early symptoms of malignant mesothelioma and depend, in part, on the area affected. Common symptoms include but are not limited to:
For benign pleural mesothelioma of the lungs:

• Tightness, pressure or pain in the chest or back
• Shortness of breath, wheezing, difficulty breathing
• Persistent, dry cough
• Clubbed fingers or malformed finger nails, indicative of a lack of oxygen in the blood

For benign peritoneal mesothelioma of the abdomen:

• Tightness, fullness, pressure or pain in the abdomen
• Loss of appetite, nausea
• Unexplained weight loss
• Bowel obstruction

Diagnosis

A typical scenario for the diagnosis of benign mesothelioma may be like the example below. All cases are different, however.
Typically, a patient will visit their family practice physician first complaining of symptoms that may be confused with a cold, flu or pneumonia. Unless there is a large, easily felt tumor, or significant breathing problems, the patient may be given antibiotics or nothing at all, and be sent home to give their immune system time to fight what is mistakenly believed to be an infection.
When symptoms don't improve, diagnostic procedures such as blood tests, x-rays, CT scans, and MRI are conducted. When the tumor is detected in the mesothelium, surgery or another procedure to take a sample of tissue or fluid is done and sent to a laboratory for examination. A pathologist will examine the biopsied tissue and find no cancer present. The physician will then give a diagnosis of benign mesothelioma.

Treatment

Left untreated, a benign mesothelioma tumor can grow larger and larger and put dangerous pressure on nearby organs such as the heart and lungs. It can also rob organs of blood and oxygen. Treatment is typically straightforward, and is usually just a surgical procedure to remove the tumor. The procedure carries with it all the typical risks of any surgery including infection and negative reactions to anesthesia.
With pleural benign mesothelioma, an additional risk is pleural effusion, or fluid surrounding the lungs. To prevent this, a drainage tube is usually put in for a few days after the surgery. Always be sure to discuss all of the risks of any medical procedure with your physician.
Thankfully, benign mesothelioma does not spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body like other types of mesothelioma, so once the tumor is removed, most patients make a full recovery.

Survival

The prognosis for patients with benign mesothelioma is excellent. There is a very small chance that those with benign mesothelioma could later develop malignant mesothelioma, so be sure to discuss regular screenings with your physician.