What is the difference between sarcomas and mesotheliomas? i hear they are both cancers of the protective lining outside organs but what is the difference?
2007-10-01 12:15:03 · 2 answers · asked by redngreen 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
The major difference is the causitive factor. While they can affect some of the same organs, they are not really known for that since mesothelioma affects mostly the lung.
Sarcoma is a cancer of the supportive tissues: bone, cartilage, fat or muscle. The cause is unknown.
Mesothelioma is a cancer of mostly the lung. It is caused by exposure to asbestos.
2007-10-01 17:19:03 · answer #1 · answered by ilse72 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Sarcomas are malignant tumors of teh connective tissue. Almost any cancer with the name sarcoma in it is malignant.
Mesotheliomas are benign cancers of the mesothelium. The mesothelim is a layer of cells (aka squamous epithelial cells) that line certain areas of the body. There are pleural (within the lung cavity - the viscera is a fibrous like cell coat of the outer surface of the lung, heart, or organs within the abdomen) and peritoneal viscera (within the gut area, lining the digestive tract) that both contain the mesothelium. Now, when you asked about a mesothelioma, it is a benign neoplasm (tumor or slow growing cancer . . . but still a cancer, yet with a good prognosis for a full recovery) of the peritoneal viscera or pleural viscera. In other words, it is a benign tumor of the skin that lines the lungs or the skin that lines the digestive tract or both. Now, a sarcoma is malignant in nature and therefore has a very poor prognosis for any recovery. I hope this helps.
2007-10-02 21:00:47 · answer #2 · answered by Jack B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋