What Kind Of Findings Might You See When Assessing Patients Who May Have Pleural, Pericardial Or Peritoneal Mesotheliomas?
Patients with a pleural mesothelioma may present with a variety of complaints such as shortness of breath, fever, or chest wall pain. They may also be asymptomatic. Depending on the progression of the disease your assessment may reveal clubbing or pre-clubbing of the fingers, decreased breath sounds on the effected side, or maybe a pleural rub.
Pericardial mesothelioma may present with fever, mid-sternal chest wall pain, shortness of breath, generalized fatigue or other cardiac symptoms caused by fluid compressing the heart. Cardiac tamponade can result and be fatal if not treated in a timely manner. Assessment of vital signs is important paying special attention to the pulse for tachycardia and listening for a paradoxical pulse when taking the blood pressure. Cardiac auscultation may reveal decreased heart tones or a pericardial rub. EKG may reveal pulses alternans.
Peritoneal mesotheliomas can present with fever, abdominal swelling, and various GI complaints but males can also present with scrotal pain.
