Mesothelioma Medical Glossary

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SARCOMATOUS MESOTHELIOMA: type of mesothelioma arising from the mesenchymal cells of the mesothelium.

SERPENTINE ASBESTOS: asbestos characterized by curly fibers with a layered or tiered structure. Chrysotile, or white asbestos, is a member of the serpentine group and is also the most common form of asbestos

SETTLEMENT: resolution of a lawsuit or legal dispute prior to a final court judgment.

SILICA: the chief component of sand and a substance responsible for lung disease and cancer. Silica is not asbestos.

SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER: a type of lung cancer in which the cells are small and round.

SPUTUM: the mucus and other matter brought up from the lungs, bronchi and trachea that one may cough up, spit or swallow. "Sputum" is borrowed directly from the Latin "to spit." It is also called expectoration.

SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA: a carcinoma that affects squamous epithelium, which is an epithelium characterized by scale-like cells known as squamous cells.

STAGING: the process of finding out whether cancer has spread and if so, how far.

STATE-OF-THE-ART: has several meanings: (1) refers to medical, scientific and technological knowledge that what was reasonably known at the time the product was designed, manufactured or sold; (2) refers to evidence of industry customs, standards, or practices; (3) refers to a defense used by defendants where they claim lack of knowledge of the hazards of asbestos.

STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS: the period after which the right to file a lawsuit expires.

SYNERGISTIC EFFECT: a biologic response to multiple substances where one substance worsens the effect of another substance. The combined effect of the substances acting together is greater than the sum of the effects of the substances acting by themselves. This applies to asbestos and smoking for example.  

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