Mesothelium – membrane that covers and protects most of the internal organs. It
is composed of two layers: one layer immediately surrounds the organ; the other
forms a sac around it.
Dyspnea - or shortness of breath (SOB) is perceived difficulty breathing or pain
on breathing.
Thorascopy – a type of biopsy using a telescope-like instrument called a
thorascope connected to a video camera is inserted through a small incision into
the chest
Bronchoscopy – a flexible lighted tube is inserted down the trachea, and into
the bronchi to check for masses in the airway. Through this method tissues that
are abnormal will be removed for testing.
Staging - the term used to describe the extent of cancer and whether it has
spread from the original site to other parts of the body.
Peritoneum - the smooth transparent membrane that lines the abdominal cavity.
When cancer cells are present in this area, one is suffering from peritoneal
mesothelioma.
Pleura - the delicate serous membranous lining designed to keep the lungs
together and to prevent friction while breathing. It covers the lungs and lines
the chest wall. When cancer cells are present in this area, one is suffering
from pleural mesothelioma.
Pneumonectomy - surgical removal of a lung. It is a kind of aggressive surgery
where as much cancer cells are removed by removing the entire affected area.
Latency Period - the period from initial exposure to a substance to the onset of
the disease.
thoracentesis: the puncturing of the chest wall to obtain fluid for diagnostic
study, drain pleural effusions, or to re-expand a collapsed lung.
Metastases(s)/Metastasis - spread of disease from original site in the body to
remote sites.
