mesothelioma lawsuits

mesothelioma, being caused by asbestos, is a preventable disease. Because it is illegal to use asbestos in construction today, people who develop mesothelioma from asbestos exposure may take part in lawsuits suing companies that installed asbestos-laced housing materials.

Keywords: mesothelioma, lawsuits, asbestos, disease

Asbestos

Asbestos is a set of six naturally occurring silicate minerals exploited commercially for their desirable physical properties.^[2] They all have in common their, eponymous, asbestiform habit, long, (1:20) thin fibrous crystals. The inhalation of asbestos fibers can cause serious illnesses, including malignant lung cancer, mesothelioma (a formerly rare cancer strongly associated with exposure to amphibole asbestos), and asbestosis (a type of pneumoconiosis). Long exposure to high concentrations of asbestos fibers is more likely to cause health problems. The European Union has banned all use of asbestos^[3] and extraction, manufacture and processing of asbestos products.^[4]

Asbestos became increasingly popular among manufacturers and builders in the late 19th century because of its sound absorption, average tensile strength, and its resistance to fire, heat, electrical  and chemical damage. It was used in such applications as electrical insulation for hotplate wiring and in building insulation. When asbestos is used for its resistance to fire or heat, the fibers are often mixed with cement (resulting in fiber cement) or woven into fabric or mats. Commercial asbestos mining began in the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada and the world's largest asbestos mine is located in the town of Asbestos, Quebec. keywords: mesothilioma, insurance, medical, cancer, surgery

Differential diagnosis

The differential diagnosis of serous carcinoma not otherwise specified includes:

• Ovarian serous carcinoma, a type of ovarian cancer.
• Uterine serous carcinoma, also known as uterine papillary serous carcinoma, a type of uterine cancer.
• Fallopian tube serous carcinoma, a type of uterine tube cancer.
• Cervical serous carcinoma, a rare type of cervical cancer.
• Primary peritoneal serous carcinoma, a very rare cancer that arise from the peritoneum.

There has been the suggestion that the above diagnoses really represent one entity.

Cytologic features

• Marked intragroup nuclear pleomorphism.
• Macronucleoli.
• "Knobby" group borders (in large groups).
• Hydropic vacuoles.

Serous carcinoma

In pathology, serous carcinoma is an epithelial malignancy (carcinoma) that arises from the lining of a cavity that produces a serum-like fluid (a serous cavity).

Serous lined cavities include the peritoneum, pericardium and pleural space and tunica vaginalis.
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Causes

Asbestos is a known cause of peritoneal mesothelioma in humans.

Diagnosis

Peritoneal mesothelioma has two clinical types which can be differentiated with the help of CT findings, the "dry" type and the "wet". It is classified as "dry" when there are multiple tiny masses or one dominant localized mass and generally little or no ascites. The "wet" type has widespread small nodules, no dominant mass and a presence of ascites. If fluid is found, the process of eliminating it is through paracentesis; however the analysis of this fluid has limited diagnostic significance. Normally, a definitive diagnosis may be obtained through tissue biopsy.

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma

Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Other symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma may include bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, or swelling of the neck or face.

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Peritoneal mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma is the name given to the cancer that attacks the lining of theabdomen. This type of cancer affects the lining that protects the contents of the abdomen and which also provides a lubricating fluid to enable the organs to move and work properly.

The peritoneum is made of two parts, the visceral and parietal peritoneum. The visceral peritoneum covers the internal organs and makes up most of the outer layer of the intestinal tract. Covering the abdominal cavity is the parietal peritoneum.
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Insurance History

The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929. The parties settled that lawsuit, and as part of the agreement, the attorneys agreed not to pursue further cases. In 1960, an article published by Wagner et al. was seminal in establishing mesothelioma as a disease arising from exposure to asbestos.^[50] The article referred to over 30 case studies of people who had suffered from mesothelioma in South Africa. Some exposures were transient and some were mine workers. Prior to the use of advanced microscopy techniques, malignant mesothelioma was often diagnosed as a variant form of lung cancer.^[51] In 1962 McNulty reported the first diagnosed case of malignant mesothelioma in an Australianasbestos worker.^[52] The worker had worked in the mill at the asbestos mine in Wittenoom from 1948 to 1950.

In the town of Wittenoom, asbestos-containing mine waste was used to cover schoolyards and playgrounds. In 1965 an article in the British Journal of Industrial Medicine established that people who lived in the neighbourhoods of asbestos factories and mines, but did not work in them, had contracted mesothelioma.

Despite proof that the dust associated with asbestos mining and milling causes asbestos-related disease, mining began at Wittenoom in 1943 and continued until 1966. In 1974 the first public warnings of the dangers of blue asbestos were published in a cover story called "Is this Killer in Your Home?" in Australia's Bulletin magazine. In 1978 the Western Australian Government decided to phase out the town of Wittenoom, following the publication of a Health Dept. booklet, "The Health Hazard at Wittenoom", containing the results of air sampling and an appraisal of worldwide medical information.
keywords: mesothilioma, insurance, medical, cancer, surgery