Chrysotile mesothelioma is a form of peritoneal mesothelioma. It is a specific cancer of the abdomen and is caused by exposure to asbestos. When small chrysotile fibers are inhaled and become lodged in the lung, they can cause a mesothelioma that manifests itself in the peritoneum, particularly the lining that surrounds the stomach. The tumors that develop on the lining that surrounds the stomach limit the space available for the stomach to expand and move. They also over time come to restrict the ability of the stomach to expand and contract. Without this physical ability to change shape the stomach is unable to effectively fulfill its function in the digestion of food.
