Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.

Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs. This type is most common and most dangerous for asbestos exposure related lung deseases. Also, in the advanced stages of pleural mesothelioma, the cancer may spread to other nearby organs, including the heart, abdomen, and lymph nodes. It's not always easy to diagnosis pleural mesothelioma by examining its symptoms. As with other types of mesothelioma, pleural mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose since symptoms do not typically arise for some time after initial asbestos exposure. Additionally, since the symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are typical of many illnesses, in the early stages of the cancer the symptoms are often misread. A pleural mesothelioma diagnosis is made partly on the basis of symptoms but additional diagnostic tests are needed to confirm the presence of cancer.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma
One of the most common and specific symptoms of pleural mesothelioma is the accumulation of fluid between the lungs and chest cavity. Like pleural mesothelioma, these symptoms are also common to many minor ailments and, therefore, may not cause a doctor to suspect mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a form of cancer. There are three types: pleural which affects the lungs, peritoneal affects the abdomen and pericardial affects the heart. In fact, this is another factor that contributes to the difficulty in diagnosing mesothelioma; its symptoms are often mistaken for the flu, or bronchitis.