Mesothelioma

Author: Govt.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in which malignant (cancerous) cells are found in the

mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. Most people who develop

mesothelioma have worked on jobs where they inhaled asbestos particles.

1. What is the mesothelium?

The mesothelium is a membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs of the body. It

is composed of two layers of cells: One layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other forms a sac

around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between these layers, allowing

moving organs (such as the beating heart and the expanding and contracting lungs) to glide easily

against adjacent structures.

The mesothelium has different names, depending on its location in the body. The peritoneum is the

mesothelial tissue that covers most of the or....[MORE]