Small cell mesothelioma is an extremely rare subtype of mesothelioma, in which the cancerous cells in these tumors are smaller than cells in other types of the disease. There are still not enough cases to determine the best course of treatment for small cell mesothelioma, and prognosis is usually grim.
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About Small Cell Mesothelioma
Small cell mesothelioma is generally classified as an epithelial cell type subtype and is less common that other cell subtypes of mesothelioma. In fact, less than 6% of all mesothelioma tumors are small cell.
Small cells usually contain regular mesothelioma cells, along with other cell subtypes. Yet, in order to qualify as small cell mesothelioma, at least half of the cells in the mesothelioma tumor must be of the small cell type and characteristics.
Characteristics of Small Cell Mesothelioma
Small cell mesothelioma cells are round, all similar in appearance, and contain a distinguishable single-bland nuclei that’s found in the majority of each cell.
Small cell mesothelioma looks like small cell carcinoma, yet without the ribbon patterns that’s prevalent throughout carcinoma. In addition, the majority of small cell tumors develop in the abdominal area. In some cases, they’ll appear in the lung and heart area.
Small Cell Mesothelioma Diagnosis
It’s difficult for physicians to correctly diagnose small cell mesothelioma. As mentioned earlier, small cell mesothelioma can look very similar to other small cell subtypes. Doctors generally run immunohistochemical tests, which will stain the cell types, and in turn help to tell the differences with each cell type.
However, this is not to indicate that small cell mesothelioma diagnosis is impossible. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), an accurate diagnosis of small cell mesothelioma can be provided by the following,
“We conclude that the accurate diagnosis of small cell mesothelioma is possible, provided that the clinical presentation is known, the tumour is adequately sampled and the microscopy carefully assessed.”
Physicians usually need to conduct and collect numerous samples before may need to retrieve several samples to make an accurate diagnosis of small cell mesothelioma. After the samples are collected and go through testing, they must test negative for other types of cells before an accurate diagnosis is made.
Small Cell Mesothelioma Treatment
Although there are not enough cases of small cell mesothelioma to have a detailed standard of treatment, most doctors approach it the way they would approach any other type of the cancer with the usual treatments of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination of all three. More research and studies are needed in order to determine the best course of treatment.
Small Cell Mesothelioma Prognosis
NIH indicated that the average survival time of small cell mesothelioma patients, according to a study of seven patients, including six men and one woman, is a little over eight months.
Keep in mind, however, that as with forms of mesothelioma, the long-term outlook can vary according to each patient. While some may live only eight months, others may go on to beat the standard prognosis and live for another year, another five years, and even longer. Overall health, physical activity, levels of stress, age, and how quickly treatment starts all play a factor into long-term outlook.
In addition, more studies are needed on small cell mesothelioma, including favorable treatment options, which may change the median survival rate.
Additional Resources and Helpful Information for Mesothelioma Patients
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