What do you know about meshotelioma? in this article we will discuss about what is mesothelioma.

What is malignant mesothelioma?

Malignant mesothelioma is a cancer that starts in cells in the linings of certain parts of the body, especially the chest or abdomen.

A layer of specialized cells called mesothelial cells lines the inside of the chest, the abdomen, and the space around your heart. These cells also cover the outer surface of most of your internal organs. The lining formed by these cells is called mesothelium.

The mesothelium helps protect your organs by making a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move around. For example, this fluid makes it easier for the lungs to move inside the chest during breathing. The mesothelium has different names in different parts of the body:

    * In the chest it is called the pleura.
    * In the abdomen it is called the peritoneum.
    * In the space around the heart it is called the pericardium.

Tumors of the mesothelium can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).

adapted from cancer.org