Peritoneal Mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the abdominal lining, or peritoneum. The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include fluid in the abdominal cavity, stomach pain, nausea, hernia, weight loss, vomiting or a mass in the abdomen.
One of the common ways doctors diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma is by examining the abdominal cavity using an instrument called a peritoneoscope. During this procedure, an incision is made through the abdomen wall and the peritoneoscope is inserted into the abdomen. This procedure, called a peritoneoscopy, is usually performed in the hospital.
Some patients develop excessive fluid within the abdomen. This is called an effusion or ascites. A doctor may take a sample of this fluid to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma. Fluid in the abdomen may also be drained to relieve the symptoms of the cancer. The procedure for draining this fluid is called “paracentesis.”
Symptoms
The symptoms of mesothelioma of the peritoneum may include stomach pain, abdominal swelling, fluid in the abdominal cavity (called an “effusion” or “ascites”), nausea, vomiting, weight loss, or a mass in the abdomen.
