Features of malignant mesothelioma

Symptoms

Symptoms associated with local or distant spread

In addition to the general symptoms suffered by victims of malignant mesothelioma, there may be a number of other conditions arising from the disease. These include:

• Difficulty swallowing (from invasion into the esophagus).
• Nerve problems (from compression of the spinal cord or nerves).
• Spinal column distortion (scoliosis).
• Superior vena cava syndrome (obstruction of the main vein that returns blood to the heart from the arms/head, which passes through the mediastinum). Characterized by swelling of the face or arms, head fullness/headache, hoarseness, nasal stuffiness, nausea, light headedness.
• Symptoms associated with spread to distant organs; these vary according to which organ is involved.