Papillary Mesothelioma

Papillary mesothelioma is a very rare form of mesothelioma cancer. It is generally diagnosed in women, usually those who are still in the reproductive stages of their life. This is generating a greater interest for information on mesothelioma and women. It usually develops in the peritoneum - the lining of the abdomen - and, in most cases, is benign. The disease, also known as well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma (WDPM), has also been seen in the tunica vaginalis, part of the male reproductive system as well as in the ovaries, lining of the heart (pericardial mesothelioma), and sometimes the lining of the lungs (pleural mesothelioma).

Papillary mesothelioma tumors generally cause no pain and the mesothelioma prognosis for someone diagnosed with such a tumor is usually positive. Unlike malignant mesothelioma of various types, however, this kind of mesothelioma cannot be definitively linked to asbestos exposure though a connection has been made in some cases.

Because the occurrence of this disease is quite rare, there is no standard mesothelioma treatment at this time. Past reports have shown that mesothelioma doctors who do encounter WDPM have offered surgical removal of the tumor as a possible treatment and others have shrunk the tumor with mesothelioma chemotherapy or radiation. However, it is rare that this kind of tumor spreads to other parts of the body, so mesothelioma surgery is usually the preferred option and generally results in a mesothelioma cure. Reoccurrence of the disease does happen in many cases but is not an indication that the patient will later develop a malignant form of mesothelioma cancer.

Sources
Hoekstra, A., Riben, M., Frumovitz, M. et al. Well-Differentiated Papillary Mesothelioma of the Peritoneum: a pathological analysis and review of the literature. (2005). Gynecologic Oncology; 98(1): 161-167
http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/155/6/1245.pdf

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