Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer of the pleura, or the lining of the lungs. The pleura protect the lungs by producing a lubricating fluid that allow the lungs to move smoothly as they expand and contract through breathing.
Due to the rarity of this cancer (it constitutes nearly 75 percent of these types of cancer), it is often misdiagnosed as lung cancer, which is different because lung cancer is a malignant tumor that forms in the lungs.
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the peritoneum, which is the lining surrounding the stomach or abdomen. It amounts to about 10 to 20 percent of these types of cancer.
Pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer of the pericardium, which is the lining surrounding the heart. The pericardium produce a lubricant to protect the heart as it beats. It is the rarest form, accounting for only 5 to 15 percent of these types of cancer.
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