Can Mesothelioma Develop in the Stomach?

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is a form of mesothelioma that develops in the peritoneum, which is more commonly known as the lining that surrounds the abdominal cavity. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common form of mesothelioma, but is still fairly rare. Medscape General Medicine notes that the cancer is regarded as universally fatal and accounts for 20 to 30 percent of all diagnosed mesothelioma. As far as annual diagnoses, approximately 200 to 400 new cases of peritoneal mesothelioma are reported in the United States each year.