Mesothelioma Diagnosis is often difficult, because the Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of a number of other diseases. If your doctor suspect you may develop mesothelioma, he or she will ask you a series of questions to determine whether you've been exposed to asbestos and then administer tests to find out whether the disease is active.
There are many different types of tests that can help your doctor confirm whether or not you have mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis usually begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure and history of smoking habit. A complete physical examination can include: chest or abdomen X-Ray and lung function tests, a CT scan or an MRI, or Thoracentesis and Thoracoscopy. A CT scan can produce a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. A MRI can also produce detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are then highlighted and viewed on a monitor to diagnose Mesothelioma infected areas.
The above tests can be used for diagnosis of different types of Mesothelioma::
Chest X-Ray: Pleural effusions - collection of fluid around the lung, pleural thickening - thickening of the lining of the lung, and pleural based masses - masses extending from the lung lining, are often seen in patients with Mesothelioma.
Chest CT Scan: The chest CT , or CAT scan, can provide more accurate pictures about the extent of disease. The CT will pinpoint the location, extension, and associated lymphadenopathy in patients with Mesothelioma.
Thoracentesis: If patients are found to have a pleural effusion, they often can undergo thoracentesis - removal of fluid around the lung. The extracted fluid can be sent to the pathologists for cytology.
Thoracoscopy: If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy in the patients. Doctor will place a camera in to the lining of the patient's lung to directly visualize the mass and take a pleural biopsy to make the diagnosis. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.
Peritoneoscopy: If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist.
If the patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the doctor will give more tests in learning the stage of the disease to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.
