stage III

Definition of stage III malignant pleural mesothelioma
National Cancer Institute

stage III malignant pleural mesothelioma

(...muh-LIG-nunt PLOOR-ul MEH-zoh-THEE-lee-OH-muh)
Stage III is divided into stages IIIA and IIIB. In stage IIIA, cancer is found in the inside lining of the chest wall, and in each of the thin layers of tissue that cover the lung, the organs between the lungs, and the top of the diaphragm on one side of the chest. On the same side of the chest, cancer has also spread into one or more of the following: tissue between the ribs and the inside lining of the chest wall; fat in the area between the lungs; soft tissues of the chest wall; and/or sac around the heart. Cancer has spread to lymph nodes along the center of the chest on the same side of the chest as the tumor. In stage IIIB, cancer (1) is found in the inside lining of the chest wall, and may also be found in the thin layers of tissue that cover the lung, the organs between the lungs, and/or the top of the diaphragm on one side of the chest. On the same side of the chest, cancer may have also spread into one or more of the following: diaphragm; lung tissue; tissue between the ribs and the inside lining of the chest wall; fat in the area between the lungs; soft tissues of the chest wall; and/or sac around the heart. Cancer has spread to lymph nodes above the collarbone on either side of the chest, or cancer has spread to lymph nodes along the center of the chest on the opposite side of the chest as the tumor; or (2) is found in the inside lining of the chest wall, and in each of the thin layers of tissue that cover the lung, the organs between the lungs, and the top of the diaphragm on one side of the chest. Cancer has also spread to one or more of the following: the chest wall and may be found in the rib; through the diaphragm into the peritoneum; the tissue lining the chest on the opposite side of the body as the tumor; the organs in the area between the lungs (esophagus, trachea, thymus, blood vessels); the spine; and/or through the sac around the heart or into the heart muscle. Cancer may have spread to lymph nodes.

Source: NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms