Types of mesothelioma

This page tells you about the different types of mesothelioma. There is information about

A quick guide to what's on this page
Where you can get mesothelioma
Mesothelioma by cell type

Types of mesothelioma

There are 2 main types of mesothelioma

Pleural mesothelioma
Peritoneal mesothelioma

The pleural type grows in the tissues covering the lungs. The peritoneal type grows in the tissue lining the inside of the abdomen. Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma.

Cell types

Mesothelioma is also grouped according to how the cells look under a microscope. When mesothelioma is grouped this way, there are 3 types

Epithelioid
Sarcomatoid or fibrous
Mixed type (also called Biphasic type)

These types of mesothelioma cells can be further divided into other types called clear cell, small cell, acinar cell and tubopapillary cell.

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There are 2 main types of mesothelioma

Mesothelioma in the covering of the lung (pleural mesothelioma)
Mesothelioma in the abdomen (peritoneal mesothelioma)

Pleural mesothelioma starts in the sheets of tissue that cover the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the tissue lining the inside of the abdomen (tummy). Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma is much more common than peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is also grouped according to how the cells look under a microscope. There are 3 types

Epithelioid - between 5 and 6 out of 10 cases (50 to 60%)
Sarcomatoid or fibrous - around 1 in 10 cases (10%)
Mixed type (also called biphasic type) - between 3 and 4 out of 10 cases (30 to 40%)

These types of mesothelioma cells can be further divided into other types called

Clear cell
Small cell
Acinar cell
Tubopapillary cell

There is information in this section about the types of tests you may have to diagnose mesothelioma and find out what type it is. For more information about mesothelioma, look at our page about what mesothelioma is.