Words to know: Mesothelioma
- Mesothelium
- The thin lining that covers the lungs, chest wall, belly organs, and heart.
- Pleura
- The lining around the lungs and inside the chest wall.
- Peritoneum
- The lining of the belly and the organs inside it.
- Asbestos
- A mineral once used in buildings and industry. Its tiny fibers can cause mesothelioma many years after exposure.
- Pleural effusion
- A buildup of fluid between the lung and the chest wall that can cause shortness of breath.
- Ascites
- A buildup of fluid in the belly.
- Thoracentesis
- Draining fluid from around the lung with a needle.
- Thoracoscopy
- A procedure that uses a small camera placed through the chest wall to look inside and take a biopsy. Also called VATS.
- Biopsy
- Taking a small piece of tissue to look at under a microscope.
- Epithelioid
- The most common cell type of mesothelioma, which tends to grow more slowly.
- Sarcomatoid
- A less common cell type of mesothelioma that tends to grow faster.
- Biphasic
- Mesothelioma with a mix of epithelioid and sarcomatoid cells.
- Resectable
- Able to be removed with surgery.
- Pleurectomy and decortication
- Surgery that removes the pleura and visible tumor while keeping the lung.
- Pleurodesis
- A procedure, often using talc, that seals the space around the lung so fluid cannot build up again.
- Indwelling pleural catheter
- A thin tube placed in the chest so fluid can be drained at home.
- HIPEC
- Heated chemotherapy washed through the belly during surgery for peritoneal mesothelioma.
- Immune checkpoint inhibitor
- A drug, such as nivolumab, ipilimumab, or pembrolizumab, that helps the immune system attack cancer.
- Pemetrexed
- A chemotherapy drug used with cisplatin or carboplatin to treat mesothelioma.
- Platinum chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy drugs such as cisplatin and carboplatin.
- BAP1
- A gene often changed in mesothelioma. An inherited change can raise the risk of mesothelioma and some other cancers.
- PD-L1
- A protein on some cancer cells that can be measured. It is not required for immune treatment of mesothelioma.
- Palliative care
- Care focused on easing symptoms and improving quality of life, given at any stage alongside cancer treatment.
- Pulmonary rehab
- A program of exercise and breathing training that helps people with lung problems feel stronger.
Last updated: 2026-10-27. Medically reviewed by Veli Bakalov, MD, medical oncologist (October 2026). General education from Step by Step, the patient portal of HemeOncBuddy.