Mesothelioma Diagnosis: An Introduction

A physician may suspect malignant mesothelioma in a patient who has symptoms suggesting this cancer and who reports a history of asbestos exposure. Careful medical examination may also reveal the presence of fluid in the pleural or abdominal cavity. Once malignant mesothelioma is suspected, a number of methods are available to help confirm the diagnosis.

Imaging methods, such as x-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans, help determine the location, size and extent of the cancer, and specifically detect pleural or peritoneal thickening, fluid in the pleural or abdominal cavity, or nodules of cancer cells. However, a definitive diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma can only be made after the examination of cells from abnormal tissue.

A biopsy of abnormal tissue is performed to find out whether the cells in this tissue are cancerous or not. Such tissue can be removed through minimally invasive surgery. Fluid in the pleural or abdominal cavity may also contain cancer cells, and may also be removed for analysis. Cells from abnormal tissue or fluid are examined under the microscope, and can be identified as normal or cancerous. However, such examination does not necessarily confirm the type of cancer. Cells found in pleural mesotheliomas can resemble lung cancer cells, and cells found in peritoneal mesotheliomas can resemble ovarian cancer cells. To differentiate between these different forms of cancer, a method called immunohistochemistry is often used. This method detects proteins on the surface of cancer cells that are specific to certain types of cancers. A newer method called DNA microarray analysis examines the genes of cancer cells. Malignant mesothelioma cancer cells have different gene patterns from other cancer cells and from normal cells.

While no blood tests confirm a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, there are certain blood abnormalities that suggest the presence of a cancer. Recent research suggests that elevated levels of a blood protein called osteopontin may help in the early detection of mesothelioma.



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A Guide To Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma take a long time to develop, which is a major reason for the high fatality rate. Symptoms include shortness of breath, difficult breathing, and pain in the chest or abdominal cavity. Chest pains indicate that the disease is aggravating the nerve cells in the tissues, and has reached a serious stage. Less severe chest discomfort and shortness of breath are generally due to the accumulation of fluid between the two layers of the pleura. Mesothelioma of the abdomen can have symptoms of abdominal pain and swelling. Other symptoms include cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss.

As chest pain, shortness of breath or abdominal pain are symptomatic of several diseases, tests are required to identify the cause. These tests vary depending on the symptoms and may include an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a chest or abdominal X-ray. If abnormalities are seen, a CT scan or an MRI scan is taken. These tests help determine the size, location and extent of a possible tumor.

Fine-needle aspiration may also be given. In this procedure, a thin needle is used to remove a small sample of the fluid in the abdomen or lungs for examination. A biopsy is also taken through a thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), or through a led laparoscopy. Here, a tube-like instrument inserted through a small incision gives a view of the tumor and collects a tissue sample. A bronchoscopy or a mediastinoscopy may also be done. This enables the doctor to look for other masses of tumors in the lungs or to take tissue samples from lymph nodes.



Mesothelioma provides detailed information on malignant mesothelioma, asbestos and mesothelioma, mesothelioma, mesothelioma research and more. Mesothelioma is affliated with Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis.

A Guide To Mesothelioma Symptoms

Symptoms of mesothelioma take a long time to develop, which is a major reason for the high fatality rate. Symptoms include shortness of breath, difficult breathing, and pain in the chest or abdominal cavity. Chest pains indicate that the disease is aggravating the nerve cells in the tissues, and has reached a serious stage. Less severe chest discomfort and shortness of breath are generally due to the accumulation of fluid between the two layers of the pleura. Mesothelioma of the abdomen can have symptoms of abdominal pain and swelling. Other symptoms include cough, fatigue and unexplained weight loss.

As chest pain, shortness of breath or abdominal pain are symptomatic of several diseases, tests are required to identify the cause. These tests vary depending on the symptoms and may include an electrocardiogram (EKG), and a chest or abdominal X-ray. If abnormalities are seen, a CT scan or an MRI scan is taken. These tests help determine the size, location and extent of a possible tumor.

Fine-needle aspiration may also be given. In this procedure, a thin needle is used to remove a small sample of the fluid in the abdomen or lungs for examination. A biopsy is also taken through a thoracoscopy or video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT), or through a led laparoscopy. Here, a tube-like instrument inserted through a small incision gives a view of the tumor and collects a tissue sample. A bronchoscopy or a mediastinoscopy may also be done. This enables the doctor to look for other masses of tumors in the lungs or to take tissue samples from lymph nodes.



Mesothelioma provides detailed information on malignant mesothelioma, asbestos and mesothelioma, mesothelioma, mesothelioma research and more. Mesothelioma is affliated with Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis.