Mesothelioma (benign-fibrous)

• Alternative Names

  Mesothelioma - benign; Mesothelioma - fibrous; Localized fibrous tumor of the pleura; Pleural fibroma

• Causes, incidence, and risk factors

  Nonmalignant mesothelioma affects men more frequently than women.

• Symptoms

  Approximately half of persons with this disease are asymptomatic, which means they do not show any symptoms.

  If the tumor grows to a large size and pushes on the lung, it can lead to shortness of breath.

  Other symptoms include:

  • Chest pain
  • Chronic cough
• Signs and tests

  During a physical examination, the health care provider may notice a clubbed appearance of the fingers. The tumor is usually found by accident when a chest x-ray is done for other reasons.

  Other tests that may show benign mesothelioma include:

  • CT scan of the chest
  • Open lung biopsy
• Treatment

  Treatment is usually needed to remove the tumor.

• Expectations (prognosis)

  The outcome is expected to be good with prompt treatment. The condition may return in about 1 out of 10 cases. It may reoccur as long as 10 years later.

• Complications

  Pleural effusion (fluid escaping into the membranes around the lungs) is a complication.

• Calling your health care provider

  Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you notice symptoms of mesothelioma.

• References

  Vinod S, Mehetri G, Hegde KK. Benign fibrous mesothelioma. Radiology. 2006; 16(3):293-294.

  Mason RJ, Murray J, VC Broaddus, Nadel J. Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2005:2002.

  Grainger RC, Allison D, Adam, Dixon AK. Diagnostic Radiology: A Textbook of Medical Imaging. 4th ed. Orlando, Fl: Churchill Livingstone; 2001:339-341.

Review Date: 8/29/2008

Reviewed By: Sean O. Stitham, MD, private practice in Internal Medicine, Seattle, Washington; and Benjamin Medoff, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Pulmonary and Critical Care Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.