Did You Know?
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the least common type of mesothelioma cancer cell.
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the most serious form of the disease, as it rarely responds to any treatment options. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma strikes 10-20% of patients with mesothelioma. Death usually occurs within six months of diagnosis of Sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
There are three categories of mesothelioma cancer cells:
- Biphasic mesothelioma cancer
- Epithelioid mesothelioma cancer
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma cancer
It is difficult to diagnose sarcomatoid mesothelioma and thus far it has been resistant in responding to any type of therapy. Mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos-related diseases. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is sometimes confused with other sarcomas because it originates in the same areas of the body and has a similar cellular structure. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is both very aggressive and fatal.
Sarcoma is a form of cancer that originates in the supportive tissues of the body such as the bone, cartilage, fat or muscle. The other two are epithelioid mesothelioma and biphasic mesothelioma. These types of mesothelioma cells can further divide into other types of cancerous cells called
- Clear cell
- Small cell
- Acinar cell
- Tubopapillary cell
Pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma is the type most often confused with sarcomatoid mesothelioma. Similar to sarcomatoid mesothelioma, lung sarcomatoid carcinomas are much more likely in men (four times more likely than in women) and there is a strong association with smoking. Also, patients can present with similar symptoms, such as chest pain, pleural effusions and respiratory difficulty.
See Also:
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with high grade sarcoma of the lungs or
pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma and you have had previous asbestos exposure, it may be best to seek a second thorough examination from your current physician or from an oncologist who specializes in
mesothelioma.
