Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is one of four primary types of malignant mesothelioma cancers and the second-most diagnosed type of the illness. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for 10 to 20 percent of all cases. The names stems from the area where the cancerous tumors start to develop, along the peritoneum, also known as the lining of the abdomen.

All mesotheliomas, including peritoneal, stem from extended exposure to asbestos, usually at work. People diagnosed with the disease often can pinpoint a time in their lives when they were around asbestos dust, fibers or products for a sustained period. This exposure leads to ingestion or inhalation of microscopic asbestos particles, which can produce cancerous cells and then tumors.

Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum

The peritoneum is a protective membrane that surrounds the abdomen, lungs, heart and testicles. It has two layers, and mesothelioma can develop on both. The parietal layer covers the abdominal cavity, while the visceral layer surrounds the organs of the abdomen. Together, the layers support the abdominal cavity as a whole and the organs within it.

What Causes Peritoneal Mesothelioma?

Although no definitive answer is available, cancer experts most commonly associate the cause of peritoneal mesothelioma with the following theories:

• Swallowed asbestos fibers travel from the digestive system to the peritoneum.
• Inhaled asbestos fibers reach the peritoneum through the lymphatic system, which produces and stores cells that fight disease.