Mesothelioma Cancer Diagnosis

Mesothelioma is diagnosed using a series of imaging tests followed by a biopsy.

Diagnosing mesothelioma can be difficult because the symptoms are similar to those of so many other common diseases. Typically, ailments like chest pain, shortness of breath, and coughing bring a patient to their doctor. An accurate diagnosis largely depends on the patient providing a complete medical and occupational history, which may indicate any past exposure to asbestos which may have caused the disease.

Here’s what you can expect from the mesothelioma diagnosis process.

Imaging Tests

After the doctor takes a detailed medical history they will usually order a series of diagnostic test to further investigate the cause of the problems.

X-RAY

The first test is often an X-ray. While X-rays are most useful in detecting abnormalities in the skeletal system, including broken and fractured bones, they can also be used to detect abnormalities in soft tissue, including pleural effusion (fluid in the lungs) or the presence of a tumor or pleural plaques or calcification. An X-ray that shows suspicious spots or fluid retention will usually lead to more sophisticated tests.

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCANS

The CT scan rotates an X-ray generating device around the entire body to provide cross-section images (or “slices”) of the inside of the body. Performed at either a hospital or an outpatient facility, CT scans are painless and don’t require anesthesia or special preparation. You simply lie on a table, which may be raised, lowered, or tilted in order for the technician to get the most accurate pictures possible. Technicians will be sure you’re as comfortable as possible during the procedure.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)

MRI uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of the head or body. This test is good at detecting tumors in or around the lungs, which makes it especially useful for diagnosing mesothelioma. Your doctor may recommend that you drink a harmless contrast dye before the test.

During the test, you’ll lie on a table that moves through the MRI machine, which directs radio waves towards the body. Clicking and other noises are a normal part of the procedure. Most MRIs last from 30 to 90 minutes; many people fall asleep during the test. If you have a fear of closed-in spaces, some hospitals and other facilities offer open MRIs, or you may be offered a sedative before the test.

Biopsy

The final test in a mesothelioma diagnosis is usually a biopsy, which involves removing a sample of fluid or tissue from the affected area and sending it to a pathologist for examination.

Some biopsies require no anesthesia or only local anesthesia. In this case, the physician removes tumor samples through a thin needle or a flexible, lighted tube called an endoscope. In other cases, a biopsy requires surgery and general anesthesia. Different procedures are used to collect cell or tissue samples, depending on the suspected location of cancer.

The sample will be sent to a pathologist who specializes in cancer and its diagnosis. This doctor will examine the cells under a microscope to check for any abnormalities that might indicate cancer.

Early Diagnosis

Early detection of mesothelioma is extremely difficult due to the disease’s latency period. By the time the symptoms became apparent, the cancer has usually progressed to stage 3 or 4, when available treatments are palliative rather than curative. In addition, because of the rarity of the disease and the fact that the symptoms mirror those of more common illnesses, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed.

If you think you may have been exposed to asbestos, talk to your doctor about scheduling regular tests for abnormalities. Labor unions, doctor’s offices, or law firms sometimes sponsor mass screenings for people at a particular work site or in a particular industry who may have been exposed to asbestos.

Recent advancements in testing give some hope for earlier detection. A few years ago, a Japanese company invented a blood test for mesothelioma, known as Mesomark &tm;. The Japanese Mesomark&tm; test, available in the US since 2007, measures the blood serum concentrations of a marker called soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP). High levels of SMRP may indicate the presence of mesothelioma.

Research continues into other ways to recognize mesothelioma in its early stages, when more options are available for treatment, including surgery.

Source: https://www.maacenter.org/mesothelioma/diagnosis/