What kind of surgery might I have for pleural mesothelioma?

If you are in good enough health, and your mesothelioma has not spread, you might be a candidate for an extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which is considered potentially curative surgery.

In this procedure, the lung on the side of the tumor is removed, as are all the coverings around the lung and the inside of the chest on the same side – in other words, all the mesothelium is removed. This includes the coverings of the heart and the diaphragm. The coverings of the diaphragm and the heart must be repaired.

This procedure must be done by a surgeon who is very skilled and experienced. It requires a large open incision and significant recovery time. If it is successful, all the visible mesothelioma will have been removed.

A less extensive procedure that may be used for people who cannot tolerate the removal of one lung is a pleurectomy/decortication. This means removing all of the pleura on the side of the mesothelioma, which frees up the lung.

Other surgical procedures may be done for diagnosis, a thorascopy, for example, or to alleviate symptoms by draining fluid from the pleural space.

Treatments for Pleural Mesothelioma
Surgery