How Does Asbestos Cause Pericardial Mesothelioma?
It has long been known that pleural mesothelioma , which develops in the lining of the lungs, is caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers. However, the way in which asbestos causes the development of pericardial mesothelioma is not very well understood. Scientific research has yet to reveal a clear correlation between this disease and exposure to asbestos, but a number of patients with pericardial mesothelioma have a history of asbestos exposure. Some experts believe that inhaled asbestos fibers travel via the bloodstream from the lungs to the heart, although there is no conclusive evidence to support this theory. What is known is that asbestos fibers somehow become lodged in the pericardial membranes that surround the heart. When this occurs, the body experiences extreme difficulty in eliminating the asbestos fibers and they can remain stuck in the membranes. Over a long period of time, sometimes two decades or more, the asbestos fibers cause the cells of the pericardium to undergo cha
