Adenomatoid Mesothelioma

Adenomatoid mesothelioma is a specific subset of epithelioid mesothelioma. It is sometimes known as glandular or microglandular mesothelioma. This subtype is one of the more common secondary patterns of epithelial malignant mesothelioma.
Any type of mesothelioma can have an adenomatoid growth pattern. Pleural, peritoneal or pericardial cancers may all feature this differentiation.
This type of mesothelioma can mimic several other types of tumors, including benign adenomatoid tumors and pleural metastases of adenocarcinoma. To correctly diagnose a patient, doctors will need to evaluate the patient’s clinical presentation as well as the unique histological features of the tumor.

Growth Patterns

These cells can be either flat or cube-shaped. In adenomatoid mesothelioma, the cells line small, gland-like structures.
As with other types of epithelioid mesothelioma, adenomatoid cells grow in a uniform pattern. Some tumors grow into microcystic structures. These patterns can have a lace-like appearance.
Adenomatoid growth patterns may coexist with other growth patterns in epithelial tumors, but are often the predominant pattern.

Lesions vs. Mesothelioma

The subtype of asbestos cancer is not the same thing as an adenomatoid mesothelial lesion. These lesions grow in mesothelial cells, but these tumors have a different cellular makeup than malignant tumors. Lesions typically develop in the pelvic organs, but they can also arise in the pleura, mesentery or omentum. These benign tumors are very small and lack significant cellular abnormalities.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Malignant mesotheliomas are often diagnosed differently than lesions. The benign growths often develop in the genital tract (in both males and females), and they are often diagnosed incidentally during a pelvic surgery. A handful of these tumors have also been detected in the pleura during a debulking surgery for other lung masses.
However, when doctors diagnose a patient with malignant mesothelioma of the adenomatoid variety, the diagnostic process is the same as it is for any other type of malignant mesothelioma. Patients typically present with chest pain, shortness of breath and coughing. The oncologist then runs several imaging scans and biopsies that lead to diagnosis.