Mesothelioma Surgery

While considered a traditional method for treating cancer, surgery is a somewhat limited option for mesothelioma patients. This is because mesothelioma is usually not diagnosed until the later stages of progression, when the cancer has spread beyond the scope of resectable measures. Surgical procedures for mesothelioma are usually palliative in nature, meaning they are intended to treat the cancer’s symptoms rather than cure the disease itself.

Surgical Options

There are several surgical options associated with mesothelioma, which range in their aggressiveness. Most of these procedures are meant to make the patient more comfortable and improve their quality of life. The five most common surgical procedures associated with mesothelioma are:

Thoracentesis

Pleurodesis

Pleurectomy

Extrapleural pneumonectomy

Lobectomy

Surgery in the case of mesothelioma is often used in conjunction with other treatment methods in what is known as a multimodal approach.

Surgical Methods

As mentioned earlier, surgery for mesothelioma patients is not usually done in an attempt to cure the cancer. Instead, surgery is performed for the following reasons:

Decrease the buildup of fluids—mesothelioma can cause fluid to buildup in the chest or lungs, causing the patient to have difficulty breathing. Surgeons can insert either a tube or a catheter into the body in order to drain the fluid. Doctors can also inject medications that can prevent future buildup.

Remove tissues surrounding the lungs or abdomen—as a means of symptom relief. This removal can be of the tissue lining the ribs and lungs, known as a pleurectomy, or the tissue lining the abdominal cavity, which is a peritonectomy.

Debulking—this is a procedure intended to resect as much of the cancer as possible, but does not surgically eliminate the cancer as a whole.

Lung removal (as well as the surrounding tissue)—resecting the affected lung, and the tissue surrounding it can be another means of symptom relief. This type of organ removal can allow doctors to use higher amounts of radiation post-operation since there will be less concern over organ damage due to radiation.

As medical professionals and scientists continue to research and gain information about mesothelioma, more extensive treatment options will become available. While the majority of cases are not receptive to surgery, improvements in diagnostic procedures and earlier staging could prove more hopeful.

References:

American Cancer Society

Mayo Clinic

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