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Written by Karen Selby, RN | Medically Reviewed By Dr. Rupesh Kotecha | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: October 8, 2024
Small cell mesothelioma is a subtype of epithelial cell mesothelioma. However, many mesothelioma tumors with small cell features are biphasic, which means they contain a combination of epithelial and sarcomatoid cells.
This type of mesothelioma grows in a pattern like small cell carcinoma. However, the tumors do not display the stream, ribbon or rosette patterns in the subtype of lung carcinoma.
Small cell mesothelioma tumors grow in the peritoneum (abdominal lining), but they can also arise in the pleura (lung lining) or the pericardium (heart sac). Most of these tumors are not entirely composed of small cells. Instead, they often contain normal mesothelioma and other assorted neoplastic cells. For a tumor to qualify as this type, roughly half or more of all cells should display a small cell pattern.
Diagnosing this cell type is difficult because the cells look like other small cell neoplasms. Doctors must run immunohistochemical tests to differentiate between the diseases.
Conditions Similar to Small Cell Mesothelioma
A single biopsy may not always contain a representative sample of the cells in the entire tumor. In one study, small cells comprised 80% to 100% of the biopsy material. But only 15% to 20% of the whole tumor. Doctors may retrieve several samples to make an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis.
After immunohistochemical staining, the tumor cells will test positive for different compounds. This result helps the medical team narrow the diagnosis. Small cell mesothelioma and small cell carcinoma have similar-looking cells. However, each disease reacts to different chemical markers.
Diagnosing the right type is vital because different cancers respond to other treatments.
Get specialized treatment from experienced mesothelioma doctors.
Find a Doctor NowDeveloping a standard of treatment for small cell mesothelioma is difficult. Because doctors have not reported many cases, they must rely on standard mesothelioma treatment approaches.
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is more aggressive than other types of lung cancer. It is unclear if the prognosis for small cell mesothelioma differs from other epithelial mesotheliomas.
In 2020, researchers said small cell mesothelioma has a similar cell morphology to SCLC but a different immunohistochemical profile. They concluded that the rare variant has a poor prognosis, with a mean survival of about 8 months.
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Selby, K. (2024, October 8). Small Cell Mesothelioma. Asbestos.com. Retrieved October 22, 2024, from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/small-cell/
Selby, Karen. "Small Cell Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com, 8 Oct 2024, https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/small-cell/.
Selby, Karen. "Small Cell Mesothelioma." Asbestos.com. Last modified October 8, 2024. https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma/small-cell/.
A medical doctor who specializes in mesothelioma or cancer treatment reviewed the content on this page to ensure it meets current medical standards and accuracy.
Please read our editorial guidelines to learn more about our content creation and review process.
Dr. Rupesh Kotecha is a renowned radiation oncologist in leadership roles at Miami Cancer Institute. He is an associate professor at Florida International University's college of medicine and an adjunct faculty member at Memorial Sloan Kettering.
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