Testicular Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that is found in people who have had some exposure to asbestos while at work in an asbestos related industry or from secondary sources. Asbestos can break to release microscopic fibers that can get lodged in the mesothelium lining that protects vital body organs. This cancer takes decades to show its symptoms and most people who are diagnosed with this kind of cancer have it in advanced stages. The treatment options for most people are surgery, chemotherapy or radiation treatment.
What is Testicular Mesothelioma?
When the mesothelioma cancer develops in the protective lining of the testicles the cancer is known as testicular mesothelioma. The protective lining is called tunica vaginalis and it is made up of two layers, known as parietal and visceral layers. As testicular mesothelioma is very rare and very few instances of its existence have been observed there is no known cause other than asbestos. However, medical experts have agreed that the peritoneal tumors in the abdominal cavity can cause secondary tumors in one or both testicles. In other cases the tumors in the testicles might be present because a tumor in the body has metastasized and spread till the testicles.
Diagnosis of Testicular Mesothelioma
As there have been very few recorded cases of testicular mesothelioma there is no standard method of diagnosis. Most cases are observed when a patient is undergoing surgery for another treatment of testicle like hernia repair. In such an instance the doctors might remove a tissue sample from the testicles through biopsy for further diagnosis. The diagnosis is also possible when lumps start appearing in the testicles, as appearance of testicular lumps has been one of the major signs of testicular mesothelioma in most of the known cases.
Treatment of Testicular Mesothelioma
The treatment options for testicular mesothelioma are similar to those for other kinds of mesothelioma. If the cancer is in beginning stages then the doctors might remove the infected part of the testicles, if the cancer has reached advanced stage then a whole testicle might also be removed by the doctors. The removal of a testicle can also be followed by chemotherapy or radiation treatment to destroy any remaining cancer cells.
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