What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Although patients can be completely asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis, more often there are vague, non-specific complaints. The rapid proliferation of malignant cells causes pleural effusions in pleural mesothelioma. These effusions can result in dyspnea, hemoptysis, persistent cough, hoarseness, lower back pain, and chest pain. Abdominal mesothelioma is accompanied by ascites and symptoms include bowel obstruction, weight loss, anemia, lower back pain, abdominal pain, edema, fatigue, and fever. Many of these same symptoms may also be seen in pericardial manifestations of the disease.
Patients may complain of their symptoms for 2-6 months before a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made. Imaging studies may reveal the presence of fluid accumulation and tumor, but definitive diagnosis is made only by biopsy or autopsy.