Types of mesothelioma

There are 2 main types of mesothelioma

• Pleural mesothelioma
• Peritoneal mesothelioma

The pleural type grows in the tissues covering the lungs. The peritoneal type grows in the tissue lining the inside of the abdomen (tummy). Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma.

Between 7 and 8 out of 10 (70-80%) cases of mesothelioma are pleural mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma is much less common, making up between 1 and 2 out of every 10 cases (10 - 20%).

Cell types

Mesothelioma is also grouped according to how the cells look under a microscope. When mesothelioma is grouped this way, there are 3 types

• Epitheloid
• Sarcomatoid or fibrous
• Mixed type (also called Biphasic type)

Between 5 and 7 out of 10 cases (50-70%) of mesothelioma diagnosed are the epitheloid type.

Between 7 and 20 out of every 100 cases (7 – 20%) of mesothelioma diagnosed are sarcomatoid type.

Between 20 and 35 out of every 100 cases (20 – 35%) of mesothelioma diagnosed are mixed and have both epitheloid and sarcomatoid cells.

These types of mesothelioma cells can further divide into other types of cancerous cells called

• Clear cell
• Small cell
• Acinar cell
• Tubopapillary cell

With so many different types of cells capable of developing into mesothelioma.

More information
For more about these tissues, look at What is mesothelioma?