Dictionary of Cancer Terms
View in Spanish: Mesotelioma
Mesothelioma (MEH-zoh-THEE-lee-OH-muh)
A benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer) tumor affecting the lining of the chest or abdomen. Exposure to asbestos particles in the air increases the risk of developing malignant mesothelioma.
Source: National Cancer Institute Dictionary of Cancer Terms, available at www.cancer.gov/dictionary.