Biphasic Mesothelioma
Biphasic mesothelioma describes a
condition in which
mesothelioma is comprised of both
epitheloid and sarcomatoid cancer cells. This form of the
disease was once thought to be quite rare, but the number of
diagnosed cases has increased over time – possibly because
advances in diagnostic tools have enabled more precise
histological analysis. It is still, however, less common
than is
epitheloid mesothelioma.
Like patients with
sarcomatoid mesothelioma, patients
suffering from the biphasic version of the disease tend to
survive for shorter periods of time than do patients with
epitheloid mesothelioma. Conventional treatments, including
surgery,
chemotherapy and
radiation, are still options for
all three cell types, but patients who have been diagnosed
with biphasic or sarcomatoid mesothelioma are often
recommended for newer, more experimental treatments in an
effort to treat the cancer as aggressively as possible.
As is the case with all forms of the disease, if a patient
has received a
diagnosis of biphasic mesothelioma, it is
important to act quickly in forming a
treatment plan. While
there is still much to be understood about mesothelioma,
conventional cancer data shows that virtually all cancers
respond more favorably when treated at an early
stage.
Related Information: Histological Subtypes of Mesothelioma
Related Information: Forms of Mesothelioma
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