pleurectomy and decortication

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania tested four strategies to make mesothelioma surgery safer for patients. Enhancing Mesothelioma Surgery Safety Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused by asbestos. It is found in the lining of organs in the body. The most common locations for mesothelioma are in the lungs and abdomen. In this study, the patients had mesothelioma in the lungs. The treatment plan for mesothelioma usually combines multiple therapies. The conventional treatment strategy is surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. One type of surgery for mesothelioma is called pleurectomy and decortication (P/D). This surgery is performed by a thoracic surgeon. The surgeon first removes as much of the diseased lung membrane as possible (pleurectomy). The second step is to…