What are the three general types of cells seen in mesothelioma?
The most common cell type is epitheliod. This type is seen in fifty to seventy percent of patients. The epitheliod cell shape and appearance with staining under a microscope is similar to adenocarcinoma and they are often confused. Diagnosis is made by cell characteristics which include uniformity in size, cube shape, and a very visible nucleus within the cell. Life expectancy for patients with epitheliod mesothelioma is 8.5 months. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the least common type appearing in ten to fifteen percent of patients. Cell shape is oval and more irregular than epitheliod cells. The nucleus of the cell is also less visible than that of the epitheliod cell. The life expectancy with sarcomatoid cell type is seven months. Thirdly is biphasic mesothelioma which contains both epitheliod and sarcomatoid type cells. There are sharply defined areas of each cell type within a biphasic tumor. The life expectancy for this type of tumor is six months.