How to Choose a Mesothelioma Surgeon

Mesothelioma is a tumor that arises from the mesothelium that lines the body cavities. It affects the pleura 90 percent of the time and the majority of those cases are believed to result from asbestos exposure. The two surgical procedures used are a pleurectomy or a pneumonectomy. The following steps will show how to find a mesothelioma surgeon.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Find out the type of operation the surgeon performs. Some surgeons only perform one type of procedure, so make sure your surgeon is skilled in the procedure that will best achieve a complete macroscopic resection.

2. Understand a pleurectomy. This procedure is also known as decortication and is used to remove tumors confined to the surface of the lung. This is a more limited procedure and is composed of a dissection and incision of the parietal pleura, removal of the visceral pleura and reconstruction.

3. Learn about extrapleural pneumonectomy. This procedure is for more extensive cases of mesothelioma and involves the surgical removal of the affected lung, the covering of the heart and the diaphragm. Reconstruction follows. It is a more extensive procedure with a higher mortality rate, but it provides greater local control than a pleurectomy.

4. Determine which operation you will need. Your surgeon should agree that the two procedures are not interchangeable.

5. Ensure the surgeon believes the goal of surgery is the complete removal of all tumors visible to the naked eye. Unlike some cancer surgeries, the more extensive surgery frequently provides the best chance of survival and quality of life.

Resources

• Learn more about Mesothelioma at Mesotheliomaweb.

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