This image details the anatomy of the lung, and specifically highlights the lining of the lungs, known as the pleura, where pleural mesothelioma develops. This is the most common form of the cancer and develops when the mesothelial cells that line the pleura become cancerous and divide uncontrollably.
Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, which can occur by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers. This diagram shows the step-by-step process of its development once the fibers have entered the body. This image demonstrates how asbestos fibers can affect the body once inhaled or ingested.
This causes thickening of the pleura, fluid build-up and the formation of tumors which can cause a patient to experience difficulty breathing and chest pains, among other symptoms. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, which can occur by inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers.