Surgical Resection

Surgical resection is the removal of diseased tissue, a tumor, or an affected organ through an operation. In asbestos-related cancers, it refers to operations that attempt to remove visible mesothelioma or lung cancer along with surrounding tissue. It is considered a major treatment option when the disease is localized enough that meaningful removal is possible.

Origin

The word "resection" comes from the Latin resectio, meaning "a cutting back." The term entered modern surgical vocabulary in the 19th century as anesthesia and antisepsis made organ-sparing tumor removal possible, and it has been applied to thoracic cancers since the early 20th century.

Significance in Asbestos Context

For patients with pleural mesothelioma, the two main resection options are pleurectomy/decortication (P/D), which strips the diseased pleural lining while sparing the lung, and extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP), which removes the lung, pleura, diaphragm, and part of the pericardium. For peritoneal mesothelioma, cytoreductive surgery aims to remove all visible tumor in the abdomen, often combined with heated chemotherapy (HIPEC). Eligibility depends on cell type (epithelioid does best), stage, lung function, age, and overall health, and these decisions are best made at a high-volume mesothelioma center. In a legal claim, operative reports, pathology from resected tissue, and surgeon's notes become important evidence. They confirm diagnosis, document disease extent, and support damages related to the severity of treatment endured.

Example Sentence

After her epithelioid mesothelioma was staged, the thoracic surgeon at the specialty center recommended a pleurectomy/decortication rather than a more extensive surgical resection, given her lung function tests.

Related Terms

Pleurectomy/Decortication, Extrapleural Pneumonectomy, Cytoreductive Surgery, HIPEC, Epithelioid Mesothelioma, Multimodal Therapy

Notes

• Ask whether your case has been reviewed by a high-volume mesothelioma surgical program; outcomes for resection are strongly tied to surgeon and center experience.
• Request and preserve copies of the operative report, surgical pathology report, and post-operative imaging. These documents are central to both ongoing care and any legal claim.
• Ask your team to explain exactly which structures will be removed, expected recovery time, and how the operation fits into a broader plan that may include chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or radiation.
• If you are told resection is not an option, ask why (cell type, stage, lung function, comorbidities) and whether a second opinion at a mesothelioma specialty center is appropriate before ruling it out.