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Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that arises
in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is made up of parietal and visceral
membranes, which are thin layers of tissue that surround organs and body
cavities. The visceral membrane surrounds the organ, and the parietal
membrane is a sac that covers the visceral membrane. Together, the visceral
and parietal membranes make up the mesothelium. The mesothelium covers
various organs in the body protecting them and allowing organs to move
against each other as the lungs expand and contract or the heartbeats.
Mesothelioma is referred to by different names depending on what part of the
body it is found in. In the abdomen, it is called peritoneal mesothelioma;
in the lungs, it is called pleural mesothelioma; in the heart, it is called
pericardial mesothelioma
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