How Doctors Diagnose Mesothelioma

Date Posted: January 26, 2012

Detecting the Disease

While understanding it is a rare form of cancer, diagnosing mesothelioma is a process of understanding the causes and symptoms. Exposure to asbestos fibers is what causes the lining of the heart, lung, and abdominal organs, known as the mesothelium, to become affected by the growth of tumors.

Symptoms can appear mild or vague and may be confused for other more common yet less serious illnesses. Of further concern is the fact that the symptoms may take decades before showing up. In addition, many doctors are unfamiliar with this rare disease which increases the concern for misdiagnosing mesothelioma.

Diagnostic Evaluation

Initially, doctors will need to perform a thorough physical examination. It would be helpful to have a physician who is familiar with the disease as this would make the questions more specific and any information that can be provided relative to any history of exposure to asbestos fibers or dust will be essential to proper diagnosis of the condition.

The doctor will listen to and compare the breathing sounds to detect the presence of fluid; tap the chest to detect the presence of any masses; and perform an examination of the lymph nodes to detect if there is any swelling. Next, the doctor can order some imaging tests including a chest X-ray, MRI, CT scan, and PET scans to further detect excess fluid or the presence of tumors.

Forms of Diagnostic Surgeries

Mesothelioma diagnostic surgery is performed when the decision has been made to definitively determine the cause of the symptoms. After the initial diagnostic evaluation, tissue samples may be taken from the area where fluid has been detected. The samples are removed in order for the pathologist to conduct tests to determine if diagnostic markers are present, as in the case of actual cancer cells.

The biopsy procedures that are performed for mesothelioma diagnostic surgery include excisional or needle aspiration biopsy.

• Excisional Biopsy is used to determine the extent to which the cancer may have spread. During the procedure itself, the decision may be made to remove more than a tissue sample and rather, remove as much of the cancerous tissue as possible.
• Needle aspiration biopsy is done through a long needle that allows for the removal of cells and fluid samples from the area of the body where cancer may be present. Tests conducted on these cells take a look at their shape, the protein types produced and other indicators.

Scopic Procedures

Doctors may insert a lighted tube through the trachea or a small incision to illuminate the area to be examined. These procedures include:

• Thoracoscopy – for chest tumor
• Laparoscopy – for peritoneal or abdominal tumor
• Bronchoscopy – for airway masses in the lungs
• Mediastinoscopy – for the lymph nodes

There also pulmonary function tests that are designed to evaluate the respiratory system as mesothelioma can considerably affect the lungs.

Diagnosing mesothelioma early is the best way to maximize treatment options. Having mesothelioma diagnostic surgery performed early may also help to avoid misdiagnosing mesothelioma when it comes to recognizing this rare disease.