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- Sarcomatoid cells are the least common cell type, accounting for 10% to 20% of cases.
- The median life expectancy of patients with sarcoma mesothelioma is one year or less.
- Sarcomatoid cells grow rapidly and tend to metastasize to other organs.
- Treatment options are limited and often limited to palliation.
Less frequent cell types include mesothelial sarcomatoid because the cells spread more quickly than other types of cells or form distinct nodules. Sarcomatoid cells are also more resistant to treatment than other types of mesothelioma cells. As a result, patients often have limited treatment options and poor prognoses.
Characterization Of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Cells
When determining what type of mesothelioma a patient has, doctors will use histology, and cytology, to analyze tumor cells and differentiate the type. Sarcomatoid cells are sometimes difficult to recognize, as they look similar to normal, healthy cells. However, there are some defining characteristics, including:
- Spindle shape
- Multiplication expands, lengthens
- Sometimes there are multiple nuclei
- Separated, quickly metastasized
When comparing the malignant sarcomatoid cell type with malignant epithelial cells, the most common cell type of mesothelioma,the epithelial cellsare often found clustered together in homogeneous forms. However, sarcomatoid cells tend to be further apart, allowing them to spread rapidly over long distances in the body (distant metastasis).
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Subtypes
Each of the three main cell types of mesothelioma has rare subtypes. Little is known about rare subtypes such as biphasic, epithelial, and sarcoma mesothelioma, as there are a significantly smaller number of cases.
Mesothelial sarcomatoid have three recognized subtypes: transitional, lymphohistiocytosis, and desmoplastic.
Rare Subtypes Of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Transitional Mesothelioma
- Location:Pleurisy or peritoneum, pericardium (very rare)
- Cell model:Full rhombus cell
- Metastasis: Localand distant
Lymphohistiocytoid Mesothelial
- Location:peritoneum, pleura
- Cell pattern:Large, polygonal/rhomboid cells, dense bundles of inflammatory immune cells
- Metastasis:Local and distant are likely to recur after resection
Desmoplastic Mesothelioma
- Location:peritoneum, vagina tunica, pleura, areas of the male reproductive system
- Umbrella pattern:No pattern
- Metastasis:Local and distant with similarity to benign fibrous tissues
In addition to the three main subtypes of sarcomatoid mesothelioma, dysmorphic sometimes considered a sarcomatoid subtype, as most cases are composed of sarcomatoid cells. Deformed tumors are extremely rare, leaving the prognosis for this subtype largely unknown. The main defining feature of malformed tumors is the presence of cells from other body tissues, such as bone, cartilage, and soft tissue. Many case studies use mesothelioma tumors with choroidal factors to determine which cells are present in the mass.
- Cancer factors:Presence of bone cells in cancerous mass.
- Chondrosarcomatous factors:Presence of cartilage in the tumor.
Because of their rarity, the sarcomatoid mesothelioma subtypes are highly misdiagnosed and may require multiple biopsies to differentiate between and other cancers.
Diagnosis Of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
With all forms of cancer, early detection is crucial to give people the best chance of treatment and long-term survival. Mesothelial sarcomatoid is no exception but can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages due to its long latent period before symptoms appear and its aggressive nature.
What Causes Malignant Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma?
If a patient presents with symptoms of mesothelioma, a history of asbestos exposure is a huge signal to doctors that they may have rare cancer. Asbestos fibers in the air can be ingested or inhaled, then become fixed in the internal layers, causing inflammation, scarring, and mutation of normal cells into cancerous cells. Although asbestos is the only proven cause of malignant mesothelioma, other suspected risk factors may make patients more susceptible to the disease.
Symptoms Of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Different site types can vary the symptoms a patient experiences, along with existing conditions, age, and stage classification.
Common Symptoms of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
- Stomachache
- Chest
- To
- Shortness of breath
- Tired
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea
- Weight loss
Diagnostic Tests For Mesothelioma
After doctors have gathered information about a patient’s medical history and symptoms, they mayperform imaging teststo confirm that a cancerous mass is present and determine where and whether the cancer has passed. Metastasis or not. Common imaging tests include CT scans, MRI scans, X-rays, and PET scans. The results will also help doctors understand where a biopsy should be performed.
Many different biopsies can be performed, varying according to their location and how invasive they are. The primary goal of a biopsy is to collect a sample of tissue for analysis, then determine the following:
- Determine if tumor cells are cancerous or noncancerous
- Usinghistology and cytologyto diagnose mesothelioma definitively
- Determine cell type and stage of cancer
- Develop an understanding of the most effective treatment plan
In order to avoid common misdiagnoses like ovarian cancer, pneumonia, and carcinoma—renal cell histiocytosis, sarcomatoid carcinoma, fibrous pleurisy, localized fibroadenoma, fibroma, and fibroma, consulting a mesothelioma specialist is frequently the best course of action if sarcomatoid mesothelioma is suspected.
Treatment of Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Treatment of mesothelioma can be extremely complex, and sarcomatoid are even more challenging due to their aggressive nature.
Conventional Treatments For Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Patients with mesothelioma typically follow multimodal therapy strategies. However, sarcomatoid patients frequently cannot benefit from standard methods.
Sarcomatoid Response To Conventional Treatments
Surgery
- Sarcomatoid tumors are difficult to remove with surgery
- Often used palliatively, such as with pleurisy, because complications often outweigh surgical benefits
Chemotherapy
- Sarcomatoid cells do not respond effectively to chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy shows little or no effect on median survival in sarcomatoid patients
Radiation
- Radiation therapy can be used to shrink tumors but is usually only used palliatively
- Can treat symptoms such as shortness of breath and pain
Compared with biphasic and epithelial mesothelioma, sarcoma does not respond well to conventional treatments and will continue to spread rapidly to distant organs. Each treatment has its side effects, which may only worsen the symptoms experienced by patients with sarcomatoid mesothelioma.
Palliative Treatment For Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
Patients with sarcomatoid mesothelioma are often leftwith palliative careas their only option. Palliative care centers around patient comfort, providing cancer patients with the support and resources they need to maintain a high quality of life.
Harsh forms of palliative care include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. When used gently, these techniques aim to relieve symptoms. Simple yet highly effective forms of palliative care include yoga, meditation, therapy, support groups, and employment coaching. These approaches can help patients find reassurance, and comfort, combat treatment side effects, and discover support at any point during their treatment journey.
Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma Lifetime
Among the different types of mesothelioma, the sarcomatoid type has the worst prognosis due to its aggressive nature and poor response to treatment. Even with prompt treatment at the onset of symptoms, the median survival time for sarcomatoid patients is only about one year or less.
While many patients face less than one year’s survival rates, some live longer.
There is still hope for sufferers and their loved ones despite the bleak prognosis. Medical researchers are still looking at novel possibilities for treating cancer.Emerging clinical trials and treatmentscontinue to show great promise and hope for a cure.