Deciduoid Mesothelioma
Deciduoid mesothelioma is a rare, atypical cancer in many ways. Where most mesothelioma cancers strike older men, deciduoid is mostly detected in younger women. And where most mesothelioma's are caused by overabundant exposure to asbestos, many experts believe there is no asbestos link at all to the deciduoid type.
First diagnosed in 1994, deciduoid cancer is diagnosed in about only 30 cases a year. Slightly more than half of all deciduoid mesothelioma cases are peritoneal, meaning they originate in the lining of the abdomen. This, too, is unusual related to general mesothelioma cases. A majority of mesothelioma cancers are pleural mesotheliomas, beginning in the lining of the lung. In less than half the cases, deciduoid mesothelioma does develop in the lung lining.
If you were diagnosed with deciduoid mesothelioma or another rare type of mesothelioma, read our complimentary packet to learn more about your treatment options. Request your free packet by completing the form on this page.
Risk Factors and Causes
Medical experts do not know the exact cause of deciduoid mesothelioma, but some doctors consider asbestos or hormonal changes as potential factors. Unlike most types of mesothelioma, deciduoid mesothelioma is not conclusively linked to asbestos exposure.
Some doctors speculate asbestos as a contributing cause, however. Only one-third of patients in a study at Korea's Konyang University had a history of asbestos exposure, as compared to up to 80 percent of mesothelioma patients in general.
Other doctors speculate that a hormonal imbalance may help trigger the onset of deciduoid peritoneal mesothelioma. More than half of the cases have occurred in women, and two of the patients were diagnosed during pregnancy. In one of these cases, a woman's tumor was only found during a Cesarean section. These findings seem to support the hormonal hypothesis. However, Konyang researchers opted to rule out this possibility, citing negative test results for certain hormones in patients.
Diagnostic Roadblocks
Deciduoid mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose not only because of its rarity but also because it resembles other diseases. A deciduoid mesothelioma tumor is made up of firm, white nodules. Individual cells are large and polygonal or oval-shaped. The most common symptom is abdominal or chest pain, depending on the tumor site.
In the abdomens of young women, deciduoid mesothelioma resembles another type of tumor called pseudotumoral deciduosis. The two types of tumors have the same physical features and the same presenting symptoms. Additionally, both illnesses show a history of being diagnosed in pregnant women and during Cesarean section. These similarities led some deciduoid mesothelioma patients to be misdiagnosed with pseudotumoral deciduosis. However, the misdiagnosis is dangerous because pseudotumoral deciduosis is generally benign. Patients believed to have pseudotumoral deciduosis generally do not receive the immediate care they need.
Prognosis and Treatment Options
For all forms of deciduoid mesothelioma, treatment options are limited. Most patients do not receive potentially curative treatments, like surgery, and instead only receive palliative care to control symptoms. Because of this, the prognosis is poor for patients with this disease, even for patients who do have surgery. A 2001 case study reported on one patient who received potentially curative surgery and chemotherapy. The treatment combination did not prevent the cancer from worsening, and the patient died five months after his initial diagnosis.
A short survival time is common for people diagnosed with deciduoid mesothelioma. The medial survival rate is five or six months, as compared to eight to 12 months for nondeciduoid peritoneal mesothelioma. Still, like other types of mesothelioma, some patients may live with the cancer for years. One deciduoid mesothelioma patient survived 60 months after diagnosis.
If you believe you have deciduoid mesothelioma or another rare form of mesothelioma, an early and accurate diagnosis will provide you with the best chance of long-term survival. Make an appointment with a specialist to find out if you have mesothelioma. Use the Mesothelioma Center's Doctor Match Program to find a specialized physician near you.
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Last Modified Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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