Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Treatment, Diagnosis Survival and Sub types

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma- Do you know why Sarcomatoid mesothelioma happens to be one of the most dreaded forms of mesothelioma? Well, there are a number of reasons to explain this. But first, we would like to update you something more about this kind of mesothelioma cancer that you should know about it. 


sarcomatoid mesothelioma


We would also let you know about the line of treatment and  other diagnosis options that you have after your doctor confirms about it.Telling you in terms of numbers.

Please note that Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is a lesser known mesothelioma as it has the least known cell structure. Not only that, most patients have poor prognosis just because of the fact that this type of mesothelioma cancer progresses very fast and therefore becomes quite difficult to treat.

Telling you in the percentage of cases, please know that sarcomatoid mesothelioma is quite a rare type of mesothelioma that generally comprises only 10-20% of all mesothelioma cases. Furthermore, this kind of mesothelioma cancer has a limited number of treatment options and also quite a poor prognosis.








How Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Cells are identified


After physicians’ receive a case of Sarcomatoid mesothelioma, they start using histology to first examine and confirm the cell type. In case, you are not aware what the term histology is all about, let's update you with that. Please note that histology happens to be the study of cells. The technique is used to examine the tumor cells and also to differentiate between healthy cells.

The biggest problem that comes forth in the line of diagnosis of sarcomatoid mesothelioma is that the cells look quite similar to the normal cell types and therefore most of the times; doctors are unable to recognize the cells. 

And this often affects the line of treatment as well. In spite of all these obstacles, there are a number of characteristics that made them different from their normal counterparts. Please take a look how sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells are different as compared to the normal cells:


  • ·      Spindle shape cells
  • ·      Large and elongated nucleus
  • ·      Occasionally have multiple nuclei
  • ·      Tendency to metastasize


As you can see above, most of the times, sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells not only look but also behave quite differently as compared to the normal cells. 

As we have updated you above, most of the time, you can see Sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells are mostly found to be separated from one another and behave just like spindle. That's the reason they can spread quickly across a number of distant locations in the body that is also termed as distant metastasis.

After a detailed examination of sarcomatoid cell types, it has been analyzed that they are categorized into its sub-types that includes transitional, lymphohistiocytoid and desmoplastic. 

Well, as the name suggests, all these sarcomatoid mesothelioma resides at different locations. And that is why they are called by these different names. Please take a look at each of the sarcomatoid mesothelioma cell type as per their names:



Transitional Mesothelioma


Please note that transitional mesothelioma generally resides at multiple locations including pleura (lining of lungs), pericardium (rare), peritoneum.

The cell patterns of such type of mesothelkioma become like spindle shape. Lastly, the metastasis type is defined as both local and distant.








Lymphohistiocytoid Mesothelioma

Now, take a look at yet another form of Sarcomatoid mesothelioma which is none other than Lymphohistiocytoid Mesothelioma. The location of this type of mesothelioma is around pleura and peritoneum.

Now, the cell pattern of this type of tumor largely varies from either being spindle shaped and polygonal. They can also be in the form of dense bundles of inflammatory immune cells as well.

The metastasis type of the above cell type is generally local. At the same time, it can also be distant and having the potential to reappear.


Desmoplastic Mesothelioma

Well, this happens to be this type of sarcomatoid mesothelioma that has been categorized as over the different cell type, metastasis and other crucial factors. 

Please note that the location of this kind of mesothelioma is pleura, peritoneum, tunica vaginalis and some other areas entirely made up of reproductive system.

The cells of this kind of mesothelioma do not follow a distinct pattern. Finally, the metastasis type is both local and distant along with its resemblance to none other than benign fibrous tissues.

Well, as you have enlisted as many as three sarcomatoid mesothelioma sub types, there is yet another sub-type that is known as heterologous mesothelioma. The basic feature of this sub-type is that it is loaded with sarcomatoid cells all over.

Now let's take you through some of the other characteristics of heterologous tumors that are very rarely found. And this pose a great challenge in the prognosis of this sub-type.

One of the main characteristics that sidelines heterologous tumor to other tumors happens to be the presence of cells from other body tissues that sometimes related to bone, soft tissue and cartilage.

These days, this has been quite a well known diagnostic criterion to check if any of the mesothelioma tumors has the presence of chondrosarcomatous or osteosarcomatous elements within the mass. This helps the physicians to determine the further line of treatment.

Pleural Mesothelioma- The Most Common Type of Mesothelioma

Do you know that pleural mesothelioma happens to be the most common type of lung cancer? Well, there are so many sub types of this type of disease that you would gradually know about, especially after you study them as per their cell shape and location.


Please take a look at both types of elements below:


Chondrosarcomatous elements: Largely have the presence of cartilage cells within the tumor.

Osteosarcomatous elements: Largely have the presence of bone cells within the tumor.

As Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is quite rare, the cells types are lesser known. And due to this, all its sub-types are often misdiagnosed. In case, if such a rare case is received, then physicians have no option but to undergo multiple biopsies, especially to make a confirmed diagnosis between mesothelioma and other tumors.







Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Please know that it is very important that proper diagnosis should be done for any type of mesothelioma tumor. But even before that, early detection is quite crucial before the progress of the treatment.

If you get the early detection, then almost half the battle is won. But it is not always possible to detect any such mesothelioma cancer so early. It's due to the fact that they grow very rapidly and before anything can be done, it becomes even harder to reach to the stage of treatment.

Now, as far as Sarcomatoid mesothelioma diagnosis is concerned, it is not easy to diagnose the tumor at an early stage mainly due to its long latency period. This causes the symptoms to emerge very late than expected.



How Malignant Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma is caused?


Most of the times, it has come to the notice that most patients who come with the symptoms of any type of mesothelioma, are affected with the long time exposure of asbestos. And this is where doctors get the signal of the main cause of the ailment.

Please note that airborne asbestos fibers can be easily inhaled or ingested that later get embedded in some other body organs. This is where the normal cells change into abnormal cells by undergoing sudden mutation of normal body cells into cancerous cells.

After the asbestos fibers are constantly inhaled for a period of time, they become the reason of organ inflammation and scarring of normal body cells.

Please note that long time asbestos exposure is known to be a well proven and tested reason that causes mesothelioma. Other than that, there are some other factors that can also become the rare cause of sarcomatoid mesothelioma to a certain extent.


Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Symptoms


In this section, we are going to discuss about Sarcomatoid mesothelioma symptoms that can be many including fatigue, chest pain, abdominal pain, and nausea, difficulty in breathing, weight loss, fever and cough.


Common Diagnostic Tests for Mesothelioma

After the physicians manage to gather some of the vital information about mesothelioma patients, they start conducting a series of tests to get a confirmation that it is developing into a cancerous mass. The various tests that are involved include CT scan, PET Scan.

Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Treatment

There are so many treatment options for the patients of mesothelioma that are the following:

  • Surgery
  • Chemotherepy
  • Radiation


Surgery- In general, it is a difficult task to remove tumor cells surgically.
Chemotherepy- Srcomatoid mesothelioma cells do not generally respond to the chemotherapy. Also, the above procedure is not so effective for the median survival of such patients.
Radiation- It sometimes used to make tumor cells shrink but is not overall as effective as it should be. Still, the radiation can help to surpass a few symptoms including pain and difficult breathing.

Please note that sarcomatoid mesothelioma generally does not respond well to the most conventional treatment as compared to epithelioid and biphasic mesothelioma. Here, the cells are busy to grow rapidly and reach to distant location or organ.

Further, there are a number of side effects that are attached with each line of treatment that only get worsen the symptoms with time.








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