Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Doctors use a variety of tests to diagnose mesothelioma, including imaging scans, blood tests, biomarkers, and biopsies. Early detection is the best way to improve your chances of survival. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, connect with a specialist who can help you create a personalized treatment plan.

Understanding Your Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have many questions running through your head:

• How did I get this terrible disease?
• Should I get a second opinion?
• What does this diagnosis mean for me, my family, and others that I care about?
• Could I have been misdiagnosed?
• How will I be able to pay for treatments?

These and similar questions are perfectly natural. The best way to get information about your specific situation is to connect with a mesothelioma doctor who can answer your questions.

How Mesothelioma Is Diagnosed

In most cases, cancer specialists will approach a mesothelioma diagnosis by first testing to see if another, more common disease is causing the symptoms. As part of this process, the doctor will obtain a full medical history from the patient, which may include asking about any exposure to asbestos.

From there, the doctor will usually perform a series of tests, such as imaging scans and blood tests. If these initial tests indicate a potential for mesothelioma, a biopsy will be taken. A biopsy procedure is the only test that can positively confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

The Importance of Early Detection

Mesothelioma has a poor prognosis. However, many studies of the disease have shown that early detection and diagnosis can significantly improve the chances of survival. Catching mesothelioma before it spreads can increase the effectiveness of treatments, as well as open opportunities to try more aggressive treatments that might not otherwise be available.

As a result, much of the research and development around mesothelioma has focused on improving detection and diagnosis of the disease. This includes recent developments of new biomarker blood tests, which can detect the presence of substances that indicate mesothelioma may be present in the body.

How Doctors Diagnose Mesothelioma

There are three main types of tests used to diagnose mesothelioma: imaging scans, blood tests, and biopsies. Doctors typically perform the least invasive tests first, followed by more involved tests if they are warranted.

Imaging Scans

Diagnostic imaging tests, like X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, help doctors obtain information about the cancer, including how far it has progressed. Each method has its benefits and limitations.

X-ray

X-rays are commonly used to diagnose many conditions, illnesses, and injuries. They can be particularly helpful in finding fluid in the lungs, often an early sign of mesothelioma.

CT-Scan

Computer Tomography (CT) scans provide a series of X-ray images to form a 3D image, allowing tumors to be spotted more easily.

MRI

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans provide a 3D model with much higher resolution than other imaging methods. This can be helpful in diagnosing metastasis (spreading) of the mesothelioma.

PET Scan

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans use a radioactive isotope injection that can be viewed by the scanner. PET scans can help distinguish benign versus malignant tumors.

Blood Tests and Biomarkers

In recent years, a number of blood tests have been developed to identify substances in the blood that can point to the presence of mesothelioma cancer cells. The presence of these substances, known as biomarkers, do not always indicate a mesothelioma diagnosis, but they can provide useful information that can demonstrate a need for a biopsy. Biomarker tests are also known as “assays.”

Biopsies

A biopsy is an important diagnostic procedure recommended by doctors for patients presenting with signs and symptoms of mesothelioma who have a history of asbestos exposure. Some biopsies can be minimally invasive (e.g., fine-needle aspiration) while others can involve a major surgical procedure (e.g., thoracoscopy).

The general purpose of a biopsy is to obtain a sample of the cancerous tissue. This tissue is then examined under a microscope by a histologist, who can determine whether the tumor is mesothelioma, some other cancer, or another disease altogether.

Needle

The least invasive way to obtain a biopsy is through fine-needle aspiration, which draws fluid containing the cancer cells to be studied. In many cases, needle biopsies are insufficient to gather enough tissue for analysis.

Types of needle biopsies:

• Thoracentesis
• Paracentesis
• Pericardiocentesis

Camera-Assisted

Through minimally invasive surgery, doctors can use a small tube with a camera in it to view and retrieve sample tissue from the patient.

Types of camera-assisted biopsies:

• Thoracoscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Mediastinoscopy

Surgical

Depending on the location of the tumor, a needle or camera-assisted biopsy may not be possible. In such cases, obtaining a biopsy may require an open surgical procedure to gather a tissue sample for study.

Types of surgical biopsies:

• Thoracotomy
• Laparotomy

Mesothelioma is Commonly Misdiagnosed

Mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed, at least initially, partly due to the fact that many mesothelioma symptoms resemble the symptoms of other diseases. Also, because mesothelioma is so rare, doctors may be more inclined to diagnose a more common disease first, thereby delaying treatment. Misdiagnosis can differ depending on the type of mesothelioma a person has. The table below provides common misdiagnoses based on mesothelioma type.

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