Mesothelioma Medical Glossary

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PALLIATIVE TREATMENT: therapy that relieves symptoms, such as pain or blockage, but is not expected to cure the cancer. Its main purpose is to improve the patient's quality of life.

PARACENTESIS: insertion of a thin needle or tube into the abdomen to remove fluid from the peritoneal cavity. Commonly used to make the diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma in patients with ascites or to diagnose recurrence of the disease in the belly.

PARIETAL PLEURA: the lining on the inside of the chest wall which is composed of mesothelial cells and is the target organ for asbestos induced mesothelioma.

PATHOGENICITY: pertaining to the ability to cause disease.

PATHOLOGIST: a specialist physician expert in the origin of disease and the microscopic analysis of body tissues.

PERICARDIUM: the sac that covers the heart.

PERICARDIAL MESOTHELIOMA: Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the heart. One of the rarest forms of mesothelioma.

PERITONEUM: the tissue that lines the abdominal wall which is composed of mesothelial cells.

PERITONEAL MESOTHELIOMA: Cancer of the protective membrane that surrounds the abdomen. The second most diagnosed form of mesothelioma.

PET SCAN: (Positron Emission Tomography Scan); A procedure in which a small amount of radioactive glucose (sugar) is injected into a vein, and a scanner is used to make detailed, computerized pictures of areas inside the body where the glucose is used. Because cancer cells often use more glucose than normal cells, the pictures can be used to find cancer cells in the body.

PHAGOCYTOSIS: the process of digestion by cells of solid substances; for example, bacteria and foreign particles.

PHENOTYPE: the observable properties of an organism, determined by the genotype in combination with the environment.

PHOTODYNAMIC THERAPY: treatment with drugs that become active when exposed to light. These drugs kill cancer cells.

PLAINTIFF: the party who initiates a lawsuit by filing a complaint.

PLATELET: a type of blood cell that helps prevent bleeding by causing blood clots to form. Also called a thrombocyte.

PLEURA: the thin covering that protects and cushions the lungs. The pleura is made up of two layers of tissue that are separated by a small amount of fluid. The most common site for mesothelioma.

PLEURAL CAVITY: the space enclosed by the pleura, which is a thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and lines the interior wall of the chest cavity.

PLEURAL EFFUSION: accumulation of fluid between the lining of the lung and the chest cavity.

PLEURAL MESOTHELIOMA: cancer of the pleura (membrane lining the lungs and chest cavity). Pleural mesothelioma is different from lung cancer. Lung cancer refers to any type of malignant tumor that originates in the lungs. Pleural mesothelioma effects the pleura.

PLEURAL PLAQUES: a patch or small differentiated area on the surface of the pleura.

PLEURECTOMY: a surgical procedure to remove part of the chest or abdomen lining (pleura) and some of the tissue around it.

PLEURODESIS: a medical procedure that uses chemicals or drugs to cause inflammation and adhesion between the layers of the pleura (the tissue that covers the lungs and lines the interior wall of the chest cavity). This prevents the buildup of fluid in the pleural cavity. It is used as a treatment for severe pleural effusion. It can be performed with a variety of agents, including talc.

PNEUMOCONIOSIS: fibrosis and scarring of the lungs as a result of repeated inhalation of occupationally associated dust, such as silica, asbestos, and coal dust.

PNEUMONECTOMY: surgical procedure to remove the entire lung.

PNEUMOTHORAX: air within the chest cavity.

PROGNOSIS: the likely outcome or course of a disease; the chance of recovery or recurrence.

PROGRESSIVE DISEASE: cancer that is increasing in scope or severity.

PROTEIN: a molecule made up of amino acids that are needed for the body to function properly. Proteins are the basis of body structures such as skin and hair, and of substances such as enzymes, cytokines and antibodies.

PROTOCOL: an action plan for a clinical trial.

PULMONARY: having to do with the lungs.

PULMONARY FIBROSIS: interstitial disease; the presence of fibrous tissue in the lungs.

PULMONARY FUNCTION TESTS: measures how well the lungs are working and include: spirometry, which measures the amount of air the lungs can hold; lung volume tests to measure the amount of air remaining in the lungs after exhaling; and lung diffusion tests and pulse oximetry, which measure the amount of oxygen passed through the lungs to the blood.

PULMONOLOGIST: a specialist physician expert in the treatment of lung disease.

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