Mesothelioma Medical Glossary

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ASBESTOS CONTAINING MATERIALS (ACM): Materials such as ceiling tiles, floor tiles, gaskets, packing, joint compound, heat insulation and brake linings produced before 1990 commonly contained asbestos.

ADENOCARCINOMA: a type of cancer that begins in the glandular epithelial tissues that line certain organs, such as the lungs.

ADJUVENT THERAPY: a supplemental treatment to the main medical procedure. This treatment usually comes in the form of radiation therapy or chemotherapy, and is employed after surgery.

AFFIDAVIT: a written statement whereby the signer swears to its truth before a notary or other judicial officer. A witness affidavit may be accepted in place of testimony in court.

AJCC STAGING SYSTEM: American Joint Committee on Cancer staging system (also called the TNM system), which describes the extent of a cancer's spread in Roman numerals from 0-IV.

ALIMTA: a chemotherapy drug developed by Eli Lilly specifically for mesothelioma patients.

ALVEOLAR EPITHELIAL CELLS: cells that line the lung air sacs.

ALVEOLAR SACS: small air chambers in the lung.

ALVEOLI: tiny, thin walled air sacs in the lungs where oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange places. Asbestos fibers in the lungs cause scar tissue to form on the walls of the alveoli, decreasing oxygen intake.

AMPHIBOLE: a type of mineral, distinguished by a chain-like crystal structure and chemical composition. Asbestos amphiboles include actinolite, amosite, anthophillite, crocidolite, and tremolite.

ANEMIA: a condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal.

ANXIETY: anxiety is a state of apprehension or fear, either real or imagined, resulting from anticipation of a threatening event or situation. Many victims of mesothelioma and their loved ones are faced with stress and anxiety.

APPEAL: a request to a higher court to reverse the decision of a lower court.

ARRHYTHMIA: an arrhythmia is any deviation from or disturbance of the normal heart rhythm.

ASBESTIFORM: a mineral that looks like asbestos.

ASBESTOS: is the commercial name given to a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral commonly used in construction materials and other products because of its high heat resistance, strength and durability. Over time, exposure to asbestos may lead to asbestosis, mesothelioma, lung cancer and other cancers.

ASBESTOSIS: scarring of the lungs caused by inhaled asbestos fibers. Asbestosis is irreversible.

ASBESTOS PLEURAL DISEASE: a disease characterized specifically by scarring of the membranes lining the lungs and chest cavity.

ASCITES: abnormal build-up of fluid in the abdomen that may cause swelling. In late-stage cancer, tumor cells may be found in the fluid in the abdomen. Ascites is a common manifestation of peritoneal mesothelioma and can occur as a manifestation of recurrent mesothelioma after surgery for the disease in the chest.

ASPIRATION: the medical process of removing a small sample of tissue for testing with a needle-like suction device.

ATELECTASIS: incomplete expansion of a portion of the lung or the whole lung.

AUTOPSY: a surgical procedure after death which involves the examination of body tissues, often to determine cause of death.

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