Mesothelioma Glossary A

This mesothelioma glossary contains terms that are some of the more common terms associated with mesothelioma. You may encounter these mesothelioma glossary terms as you read and study mesothelioma.

Click on the letters below for an explanation of the glossary terms for each letter.

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ABGs - arterial blood gases

Accelerated approval - FDA regulations governing early marketing approval of promising drugs for life-threatening illnesses.

ACM (Asbestos Containing Materials) - materials such as ceiling tiles, heat insulation, friction materials like brake and clutch linings, and other building materials produced before 1990 commonly contained asbestos.

Adenocarcinoma - type of cancer that begins in the cells that line certain internal organs such as the lungs

Adenoma - a benign tumor of gland-like structure or of glandular origin

Adhesion - an abnormal sticking together of organs or tissues, sometimes resulting in obstructions requiring surgery

Adjuvant therapy - treatment used in addition to the main medical treatment

AJCC (American Joint Committee on Cancer) Staging System - describes in Roman numerals from 0 through IV the extent of a cancer's spread. This is also called the TNM system.

Alimta - a chemotherapy drug developed by Eli Lilly specifically for mesothelioma patients

Alveoli - the air cells of the lungs

Alveolitis - inflammation of the alveoli. In pneumonia, only the localized segments of lung tissue are involved.

Alkalosis - a condition of increased alkalinity of the blood that is caused by excessive intake of alkali or excessive acid loss and may result in muscular irritability and convulsions.

Amosite - a type of asbestos of the amphibole variety accounting for 3% of all asbestos used. Its color varies from gray to yellow to dark brown, and its fibers are coarse in texture. Fibers are somewhat pliable, have good flexibility, but only fair spinnability. Amosite was used for asbestos cement, pipe, and roofing materials.

Amphibole - a type of mineral, distinguished by a chain-like crystal structure and chemical composition. Asbestos amphiboles include actinolite, amosite, anthophillite, crocidolite, and tremolite.

Anasarca - edema characterized by the normal accumulation of serum in connective tissue

Angiostatin - a fragment) of a protein, plasminogen, used normally in blood clotting. This fragment is normally secreted by tumors. It appears to halt the process of developing new blood vessels (angiogenesis) which is necessary to tumor development. Angiostatin may, it is hoped, represent a prototype for a new class of agents with which to treat cancer.

Anthracosis - the benign deposition of coal dust in lungs from inhalation of soot in the air

Apices - the top portions of the lungs

Asbestos - a naturally occurring fibrous silicate mineral made up of tiny fibers that can lodge in the lungs and lead to cancer or scarring of the lungs. The cancer may be lung cancer or mesothelioma. Asbestos was popular in manufacturing and industry due to its strength and chemical and thermal stability. The types of asbestos include: chrysotile (which accounted for 95% of industrial use), amosite, and crocidolite and the fibrous varieties of tremolite, actinolite, and anthophyllite.

Asbestos bodies - inhaled asbestos fibril particles that are coated with iron-containing mucoprotein and imbedded in lung tissue. They are usually drumhead or dumbbell-shaped. Their presence in sputum or in parenchymal tissue is considered strong evidence of some exposure to asbestos.

Asbestos corns - they may develop when rigid and sharp asbestos fibers penetrate the human skin (especially the hands) and cause a chronic skin irritation.

Asbestos pleural disease - a disease characterized specifically by scarring of the membranes lining the lungs and chest cavity

Asbestosis - diffuse pulmonary fibrosis caused by the inhalation of asbestos particles. The alveoli and bronchioles respond to the asbestos fibers with macrophages, then fibroblasts produce collagen, which forms the characteristic fibrosis. It is an asbestos-related disease that causes scarring of the lung tissue. Asbestosis is irreversible. Non-malignant.

Ascites - a condition where fluid builds up in the peritoneal space of the abdomen. This is associated with peritoneal mesothelioma, and it is sometimes called hydroperitoneum.

ASHD (arteriosclerotic heart disease) - a chronic disease characterized by degenerative hardening and thickening of the arterial walls, often resulting in deficient blood supply to tissues and organs

Aspiration - the medical process of removing a small sample of tissue for testing with a needle-like suction device.

Asthma, occupational - a diffuse, intermittent, reversible airways obstruction caused by the inhalation of irritants or allergenic particles or vapors from industrial processes

Atelectasis - the collapse or incomplete expansion of a lung or of part of a lung

Athrocyte - a cell with the ability to pick up foreign matter and store it in granular form in its cytoplasm