Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the thin layer of tissue that covers organs in the chest or abdomen. Mesothelioma may also be called malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma may be found in one or more of the following:
- the pleura, a thin layer of tissue that lines the chest cavity and covers the lungs
- the peritoneum, a thin layer of tissue that lines the abdomen and covers most of the organs in the abdomen
- the pericardium, a thin layer of tissue that surrounds the heart
Mesothelioma may also form in the heart or testicles, but this is rare.