Stage III malignant pleural mesothelioma

Definition

As the name indicates, Stage III malignant pleural mesothelioma, is an advanced stage of mesothelioma

Stages

It is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB.

Stage IIIA

In stage IIIA, cancer is found in the inside lining of the chest wall, and in each of the thin layers of tissue that cover the lung, the organs between the lungs, and the top of the diaphragm on one side of the chest. On the same side of the chest, cancer has also spread into one or more of the following: tissue between the ribs and the inside lining of the chest wall; fat in the area between the lungs; soft tissues of the chest wall; and/or sac around the heart. Cancer has spread to lymph nodes along the center of the chest on the same side of the chest as the tumor.

Stage IIIB

In stage IIIB, cancer (1) is found in the inside lining of the chest wall, and may also be found in the thin layers of tissue that cover the lung, the organs between the lungs, and/or the top of the diaphragm on one side of the chest. On the same side of the chest, cancer may have also spread into one or more of the following: diaphragm; lung tissue; tissue between the ribs and the inside lining of the chest wall; fat in the area between the lungs; soft tissues of the chest wall; and/or sac around the heart. Cancer has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone on either side of the chest, or cancer has spread to lymph nodes along the center of the chest on the opposite side of the chest as the tumor; or (2) is found in the inside lining of the chest wall, and in each of the thin layers of tissue that cover the lung, the organs between the lungs, and the top of the diaphragm on one side of the chest. Cancer has also spread to one or more of the following: the chest wall and may be found in the rib; through the diaphragm into the peritoneum; the tissue lining the chest on the opposite side of the body as the tumor; the organs in the area between the lungs (esophagus, trachea, thymus, blood vessels) ; the spine; and/or through the sac around the heart or into the heart muscle. Cancer may have spread to lymph nodes.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is established after extensive workup that includes imaging studies, biopsy, and staging.

Treatment

For the latest treatment options, visit the National Cancer Institutes Mesothelioma treatment page below NCI's Malignant Mesothelioma Treatment