The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle situated between the belly and the chest cavity (thorax). It permits air to move in and out of the lungs by lowering pressure and assisting the rib cage in expanding while inhaling. Symptoms of diaphragm cancer are vague, although they differ depending on the kind of tumor.
Tumors in the diaphragm can be either malignant (cancerous) or benign. These tumors may develop in the diaphragm or spread from elsewhere.
Primary diaphragm tumors are uncommon. The most frequent benign cystic lesions of the diaphragm are bronchogenic or mesothelial cysts, while the most common benign solid lesion is lipoma. Benign diaphragm tumors are surgically removed if they cause symptoms or if the diagnosis is uncertain.
The most prevalent primary malignant lesion is rhabdomyosarcoma. Histology-guided treatment for malignant tumors often includes chemotherapy and/or radiation, as well as surgical excision if possible.
Endometriosis, a benign condition that expands to the diaphragm, is usually treated medically; surgical treatment or excision is only contemplated if conservative treatment fails.
Common Symptoms of Diaphragm Cancer in Women and Men
Basically, symptoms depend on the type of disease but may include:
- discomfort or trouble breathing.
- Pain in the chest, shoulders, or abdomen.
- Hypoxemia is a shortage of oxygen in the bloodstream.
- Decreased breath sounds.
- Paralysis occurs in uncommon circumstances.
Diaphragmatic endometriosis
Diaphragmatic endometriosis is an uncommon kind of endometriosis in women in which tissue resembling the uterine lining, known as endometrium, arises on the diaphragm.
Symptoms may include stiffness, soreness, and chest pain.
It can also cause heavy, painful periods. The symptoms usually intensify during or before menstruation. This might be because the glands in the endometrial-like tissue respond to reproductive hormones, which means they cycle and shed alongside the endometrial tissues.
Diaphragmatic endometriosis, due to the function the diaphragm plays in breathing, might produce extra difficulties in extremely rare situations.
Furthermore, additional concerns may include:
- limited breathing.
- Collapsed lung.
- Fluid, blood, or air in the thoracic cavity.
How Diaphragm Tumors Affect Breathing and Mobility
Symptoms of diaphragm tumors include a strong cough, discomfort, and trouble breathing. Additionally, bloody saliva may occur. Furthermore, tumors that cause difficulty breathing might produce bacteria, resulting in patient symptoms such as weariness and shortness of breath.
Recognizing Early and Advanced Symptoms of Diaphragm Cancer
The clinical signs of diaphragm tumors were not particularly noticeable. Typically, more or less acute discomfort occurred in the lower thorax, with costal extension and an emphasis on deep inspiration. Most patients coughed, and in some cases, blood-stained sputum was generated.
In some cases, the tumor was palpable as a bulge through the ribs; in others, a mass that moved with respiration was seen in the upper region of the belly. Benign tumors frequently caused no symptoms.
Read Also: Symptoms of Brain Cancer in Females
Meanwhile symptoms of diaphragm cancer include; hemoptysis, chest asymmetry, visible mass creation, and pneumothorax in the chest. It also causes stomach soreness, pain, vomiting, and nausea. Other typical symptoms of diaphragmatic tumors include:
- Hypertension
- Palpitation
- Recurrent pneumonia
Additionally, when an asymptomatic diaphragm tumor is not treated, cancer can progress to the lungs, and then to the rest of the body, eventually killing the patient. Patients with diaphragmatic tumors require prompt treatment.
Reference
Clagett, O. Theron., & Johnson, M. A. (2004). Tumors of the diaphragm. The American Journal of Surgery, 78(4), 526–530. https://doi.org/10.1016/0002-9610(49)90219-6
Huizen, J. (2018, April 5). What to know about diaphragmatic endometriosis. Retrieved from Medicalnewstoday.com website: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321412
Kim, M. P., & Hofstetter, W. L. (2009). Tumors of the Diaphragm. Thoracic Surgery Clinics, 19(4), 521–529.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thorsurg.2009.08.007
