Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that is caused by asbestos and it affects the lining of internal organs, most commonly in the lungs and abdomen, and sometimes the heart and testicles. The most common form affects the lungs and it is called pleural mesothelioma. The next most common mesothelioma is called peritoneal mesothelioma and it affects the abdomen.

Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos may have breathed in asbestos dust and fibers, which may lead to mesothelioma cancer developing on the lung pleura. The pleura is the thin membrane lining of the lung and chest.

When an individual is exposed to high levels of asbestos they may develop cancer in the lining of the abdomen, which is called the peritoneum. This cancer found in the abdomen is called peritoneal mesothelioma, which results when asbestos has been ingested.

The lining of the heart is called the pericardium. When an individual is exposed to high levels of asbestos it may cause pericardial mesothelioma. This type is extremely rare and very difficult for a physician to diagnose.