Desmoplastic Mesothelioma, DMM (Desmoplastic Malignant Mesothelioma) is a subgroup of Mesothelioma, a rare cancer that forms from the cells within the membrane lining of the chest cavity. This area is located between the neck and diaphragm and contains the lungs and heart. Desmoplastic Mesothelioma differs from other Mesotheliomas primarily in its manifestation. It manifests as a tumor that is composed of 50 percent or more of hypocellular or accellular connective tissue. Hypcelluar is when there is less than normal amount of cells and accellular is when there is tissue with no cells or not divided into cells. This differs from other mesotheliomas because they generally have high individual cell counts in the tumor, a desmoplastic mesothelioma tumor will have a low individual cell count.
Diagnostically, Desmoplastic Mesothelioma is discerned by the structure of the hyalinised collagen, which are deadly proteins. It is also discerned by the varied ways the collagen is organized. Collagen is the main protein of connective tissues. The collagen will usually appear as a dense bundle in a storiform pattern, spiral shaped, with no nuclei, the nuclei contains most of the cells genetic material. There have been whorl patterns, complete 360-spiral growth, and spindle shapes have been seen. The collagen can have a similar structure to the spindles seen in benign, non-cancerous, causing miss-diagnosis. The irregularity of the pattern in the structure is the clearest diagnostic indicator from pleural plaque. Non-inflamed necrosis, premature dead cells and tissue, of the collagen are often present, and mitosis, part of the process of cell creation, are rare.
Additionally, any individual cells in the tumor will generally test positive for cytokeratin, which distinguishes this type from the similarly shaped and necrosis-prone diffuse pleural fibrosis. In pleural fibrosis, the cells of the tumor usually test negative for keratin and positive for vimentin. Unfortunately, the cells of a tumor of a spindle cell sacroma can occasionally test positive for cytokeratin. Only careful structural analysis can help distinguish one from the other. If you have been diagnosised with Desmoplastic Mesothelioma is advised to recall when there was exposure to asbestos and seek the legal council of a mesothelioma lawyer. Know what your mesothelioma treatment options are.
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