Though Rare, Mesothelioma Can Spread to the Tongue

A recent study from out of the United Kingdom has called attention to a rare manifestation of mesothelioma tumors in a patient’s mouth. The researchers report on a patient whose mesothelioma metastasized to the tongue. There have only been 23 total cases of metastatic spread of mesothelioma to the oral cavity, with nine of those involving the tongue. The researchers discuss the challenge of treatment and the continuing need for improved biomarker testing and other early diagnosis tools.

UK Researchers Discuss Spread of Mesothelioma to Oral Cavity

Malignant mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer whose tumors form in various cavities within the body. In most cases the disease manifests in the pleural cavity, with decreasing percentages involving the peritoneal cavity, the pericardial cavity, and the testicular cavity respectively. From these points of origin it is known to spread to other organs including the liver, the adrenal glands, the kidneys and, in cases of pleural mesothelioma, to the other lung. Researchers from University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom report on a new case and its management, relying on reviews of previous cases to inform their treatment approach.

In the current case, the researchers discuss the challenges of treating malignant mesothelioma overall and the particular difficulties involved in treating the tongue. The group discusses the need for supportive and palliative care in light of the disease’s terminal diagnosis. Another study published just months earlier reported on a similar case discovered at Beijing Hospital. In that case report researchers detail the treatment protocol used in treating the patient and others presenting with the same symptoms. For those earlier patients, metastasis to the tongue occurred a median of 19 months after primary diagnosis.

Though much is already known about malignant mesothelioma, there is still a great deal more to be learned. Patients diagnosed with this rare, asbestos-related disease need access to reliable information, and that’s what the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net provide. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri