The second stage of mesothelioma staging in the Brigham System,
Brigham Stage II mesothelioma, is similar to Stage I in that it is characterized by the resectability of the mesothelial tumors (how effective removing them by surgery would be) and lymph node status (the amount of malignant cells found in lymph nodes). However, patients with Brigham Stage I mesothelioma have:
- malignant tumors that can be extracted or removed using surgery
- malignant tissue and/or tumors of the lymph nodes
- encapsulated tumors of the parietal pleura, lungs, pericardium, diaphragm and/or chest walls
Prognosis for patients with Brigham Stage II mesothelioma is doubtful. Surgical and/or noninvasive therapies, such as radiation or chemotherapy, can be effective if the damage to the tissue is not too severe.
