Type of Mesothelioma

Types of Malignant Mesothelioma:

1. Pleural Mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs, called the "pleura". Lung cancer, however, is different from pleural mesothelioma because lung cancer is a malignant tumor that originates in the lungs, whereas pleural mesothelioma occurs in the lining of the lungs.
2. Pericardial Mesothelioma. Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining that surrounds the heart, called the pericardium.
3. Peritoneal Mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining that surrounds the stomach or abdomin, called the peritoneum.

There are three cell types of mesothelioma:

1. Epithelioid accounts for 50% to 70% of all cases. It also has the best prognosis.
   
2. Sarcomatoid accounts for 10% to 15% of all cases. It is a more aggressive form of mesothelioma.
3. Biphasic or Mixed accounts for 10% to 15% of cases. This form has characteristics of both epithelioid and sarcomatoid mesotheliomas but is associated with worse survival than epithelioid mesothelioma.