Rare Case of Long Survival From Pericardial Mesothelioma

Pericardial mesothelioma is one of the rarest and most aggressive types of cancer someone can get. There are approximately 25-50 new cases of pericardial mesothelioma in the United States each year, and the one-year survival rate is only 25%.

The average survival of people with pericardial mesothelioma is approximately 6 months, and treatment options are limited. In fact, many cases are diagnosed during an autopsy, after the victim has passed away.

However, every type of cancer has the potential to be defeated – even pericardial mesothelioma. A case reported in the medical publication Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine proves as much. The patient, who was diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma in 2023, and is described as having a controlled or managed cancer thanks to a multimodal treatment regimen.

 

What Is Pericardial Mesothelioma?

Pericardial mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the lining around the heart. This lining is called the pericardium.

Pericardial mesothelioma is one of four types of mesothelioma. The other types are pleural, peritoneal and testicular mesothelioma. There are approximately 2,500 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States each year, and pericardial mesothelioma accounts for only 1%-2% of them (25-50 cases).

What Is the Pericardium?

The pericardium is a thin, fluid-filled sac that protects the heart and helps it function. The pericardium also covers the roots of major blood vessels extending from the heart.

The pericardium’s main functions include:

• Cushioning the heart from outside pressure
• Holding the heart in place
• Keeping the heart from expanding too much or filling with too much blood
• Protecting the heart from infections
• Providing lubrication to reduce friction between the heart and surrounding tissues

With pericardial mesothelioma, tumors form in the pericardium. The tumors can quickly spread to the heart tissue, which can be deadly.

 

Patient Benefits From Pericardial Mesothelioma Treatment

The patient, a 62-year-old woman, was diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma after experiencing symptoms and undergoing diagnostic tests.

Unfortunately, there is no universally accepted treatment plan for pericardial mesothelioma. Most people cannot undergo surgery due to how close tumors are to the heart. Other treatment options can cause further damage to the heart and rarely stop the disease from spreading.

In this specific case, a treatment combination of surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and radiation was effective. The patient underwent surgery, called a pericardiectomy, to remove the pericardium and the tumors within the lining. The next step was six cycles of chemotherapy in combination with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, and then radiation.

This treatment approach resulted in complete relief of symptoms and local control of the cancer. There is no sign of distant spread of tumors, and the patient is scheduled for maintenance immunotherapy to keep the cancer under control.

This type of result is what doctors are hoping will become the standard instead of the exception. Mesothelioma currently does not have a cure, but doctors hope to someday consider this rare cancer a manageable chronic disease.

 

Staying Positive in the Fight Against Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer, but it has the potential to be defeated. There is hope that even the rarest and most aggressive type of mesothelioma can be defeated. This story of a patient controlling their pericardial mesothelioma and living for more than a year, past the usual prognosis, should be a sign of hope for anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma.

For help finding treatment at a top cancer center from an experienced doctor – or for mental health and other support services – contact Mesothelioma Guide patient advocate and registered nurse Karen Ritter at karen@mesotheliomaguide.com. She can be a source of support for you during your mesothelioma journey, as she has been for many others.