Omental Mesothelioma
Omental mesothelioma is a type of mesothelioma that develops in the omentum, a sheet of fatty tissue in the abdomen that hangs in front of the intestines like an apron. In addition to storing fat and protecting organs, the omentum holds nutrients and prevents internal infections from spreading. The omentum is covered by the peritoneum and, like the peritoneum, contains mesothelial cells which can become cancerous.
Omental mesothelioma is usually the result of peritoneal mesothelioma spreading into the omentum. Although it's extremely rare, it is also possible for mesothelioma to develop in the omentum directly rather than spread to it from another area. To date, fewer than five primary omental mesothelioma cases have been reported in literature. Because it is so rare and doctors don't know much about the cancer, it is difficult to diagnose and effectively treat. But in some cases, surgery and chemotherapy have proven successful.
Want to learn more about omental mesothelioma and other types of mesothelioma? Request a free informational packet from the Mesothelioma Center by completing the form on our packet page.
Symptoms of Omental Mesothelioma
Symptoms of omental mesothelioma are similar to symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. Patients tend to experience abdominal pain, fatigue, weight loss and loss of appetite. In one case, however, a patient experienced lower back pain and no other symptoms.
Because symptoms are vague and may be indicative of less severe medical problems, it can take months for patients to receive a proper diagnosis. However, it is important to consider mesothelioma as a potential cause of symptoms. In the most recent case of omental mesothelioma, doctors took three months to accurately diagnose the patient. The mesothelioma was too invasive by then and the patient died three weeks later, before any treatment could be administered.
Treating Omental Mesothelioma
Doctors are unsure which treatments are most effective against omental mesothelioma because of the disease's extreme rarity. Treatment of omental mesothelioma therefore is based on each case and is at the discretion of the patient's team of oncologists and thoracic surgeons. The treatment team may recommend typical mesothelioma treatments like chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or surgery.
In a case reported in 2004, surgeons completely removed an omental mesothelioma tumor and the patient fully recovered. Nearly three years later, the patient was still in good health. In a 2009 case, an omental mesothelioma patient was successfully treated with chemotherapy. When the study was published 14 months after initial diagnosis, the patient was alive and well.
Prognosis
Most mesothelioma patients can expect to live about a year or less after diagnosis, but prognosis may be better for omental mesothelioma patients. Because of the rarity of omental mesothelioma, a typical prognosis has not yet been determined. Whereas one patient died only weeks after diagnosis, another patient was still healthy years later.
For an accurate prognosis estimate, omental mesothelioma patients should see a specialized mesothelioma doctor. The Mesothelioma Center can help you find a doctor near you. Complete our Doctor Match form to get started.
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Last Modified Tuesday, May 8th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
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