Mesothelioma Navy Types of Mesothelioma 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the medical term for the fluid buildup between the two layers of the pleura in pleural mesothelioma?
- Ascites
- Pleural effusion (Correct answer)
- Pericardial effusion
- Edema
Correct answer: Pleural effusion
Pleural effusion is the accumulation of excess fluid in the pleural space and is one of the hallmark symptoms of pleural mesothelioma.
Question 2: Which mesothelioma type is sometimes treated with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)?
- Pleural mesothelioma
- Pericardial mesothelioma
- Peritoneal mesothelioma (Correct answer)
- Testicular mesothelioma
Correct answer: Peritoneal mesothelioma
HIPEC is used specifically for peritoneal mesothelioma, delivering heated chemotherapy directly into the abdominal cavity during surgery.
Question 3: A patient with mesothelioma has a biopsy showing both elongated spindle cells and cuboidal epithelial cells. What is the diagnosis?
- Epithelioid mesothelioma
- Sarcomatoid mesothelioma
- Biphasic mesothelioma (Correct answer)
- Desmoplastic mesothelioma
Correct answer: Biphasic mesothelioma
Biphasic mesothelioma contains both epithelioid and sarcomatoid cell types in varying proportions within the same tumor.
Question 4: Which subtype of sarcomatoid mesothelioma is characterized by dense fibrous tissue making diagnosis particularly difficult?
- Lymphohistiocytoid
- Desmoplastic (Correct answer)
- Transitional
- Papillary
Correct answer: Desmoplastic
Desmoplastic mesothelioma is a rare sarcomatoid subtype dominated by dense fibrous stroma, often mistaken for benign fibrous pleuritis.
Question 5: Where does peritoneal mesothelioma most commonly spread once it progresses?
- The lungs and brain
- Within the abdominal cavity to nearby organs (Correct answer)
- The bones and spine
- The lymph nodes of the neck
Correct answer: Within the abdominal cavity to nearby organs
Peritoneal mesothelioma tends to spread locally within the abdominal cavity, invading nearby organs like the liver, intestines, and stomach.
Question 6: Which mesothelioma type accounts for approximately 1% of cases and is most commonly discovered incidentally during cardiac surgery?
- Pleural mesothelioma
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
- Pericardial mesothelioma (Correct answer)
- Testicular mesothelioma
Correct answer: Pericardial mesothelioma
Pericardial mesothelioma is extremely rare (about 1%) and is often found unexpectedly during procedures for other cardiac conditions.
Question 7: What percentage of mesothelioma cases are classified as epithelioid cell type?
- 10–20%
- 30–40%
- 50–70% (Correct answer)
- 80–90%
Correct answer: 50–70%
Epithelioid mesothelioma is the most common cell type, representing approximately 50–70% of all mesothelioma diagnoses.
Mesothelioma Navy Types of Mesothelioma 3
What is the medical term for the fluid buildup between the two layers of the pleura in pleural mesothelioma?