Malignant mesothelioma

What it means

Malignant mesothelioma is a form of cancer that originates from the cells of the mesothelium, a thin tissue layer surrounding the body's internal organs. Malignant mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure, pleural mesothelioma being the most common form, affecting the lining of the lungs called the pleura. Other forms such as perioneal-, percardial- or testicular- mesothelioma are much rarer.

In everyday care

Most people with this sign do not have a rare disease — it appears in common conditions far more often. These general reference pages cover the same topic:

Rare diseases that can present with this1

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category