Mesothelioma

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Public Comments

1. a good history and physical, x-rays of the lungs, CT's, blood work
2. yes a history is one of the most important points, but looking at an x-ray, if there is a calcified node seen a biopsy is the best determining factor
3. Patients with pleural mesotheliomas (mesotheliomas of the chest) often have fluid in their chest cavity (pleural effusion) caused by the cancer. Some will have fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites) in cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, or fluid in the pericardium (pericardial effusion) in cases of pericardial mesothelioma. All these might be detected during a physical exam. Otherwise they will be found by imaging studies. One test called immunohistochemistry looks for different proteins on the surface of the cells. It can be used to tell if the cancer is a mesothelioma or a lung cancer, which can appear to start in the lining of the chest cavity.
4. The first thing a doctor will examine is the medical history, and also if the patient has had any exposure to Mesothelioma in the past. Diagnosis will most likely include CT scans, MRI’s, and most definitely x-rays of the patient. Combining all of these methods could help give a doctor a good overview and makeup of the patient’s body, and can help in determining if Mesothelioma could be the reason behind the symptoms.
5. Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient’s medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful.