Below is a description of mesothelioma tests if there is a suspicion of mesothelioma.
If your doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, there will be a basic physical exam aimed at screening for mesothelioma.
You will be checked for lumps or other unusual signs.
Your doctor may order specific tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.
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* Chest X-ray may show abnormalities if you have pleural mesothelioma.
Chest (or abdominal) Computerized Tomography (CT) can also reveal abnormalities in your chest or abdomen if you have mesothelioma.
One of the unfortunate mesothelioma facts is that it may be misdiagnosed initially because it’s fairly rare and its & symptoms can mimic those of other disorders.
Your doctor will likely rule out other more common conditions before considering mesothelioma.
If it remains a possibility after initial tests, the following mesothelioma screenings or procedures may be conducted.
* A biopsy (where a small portion of the mesothelium is removed & examined) is the only sure way to determine precise diagnosis.
Depending on what area of your body is affected, your doctor will choose the appropriate biopsy location and procedure.
Fine-needle aspiration. Fluid or a piece of tissue is removed with a fine needle inserted into your chest or abdomen.
Thoracoscopy allows a view inside your chest. There is a tube inserted in your chest with a tiny video camera to see inside. Your surgeon will then cut away a piece of tissue for examination.
Laparoscopy lets the surgeon to see inside your abdomen. Again the surgeon inserts a tiny camera and surgical tools can be used to extract a small piece of tissue for examination.
Thoracotomy opens your chest allowing an examination for signs of disease. A sample of tissue is removed for testing.
Laparotomy opens the abdomen to allow a surgeon to check for signs of mesothelioma. A sample of tissue is removed for testing.
The tissue sample removed is analyzed under a microscope to determine whether it is mesothelioma.
If diagnosis is positive, other mesothelioma tests determine its extent of the cancer & whether it has spread (a process called “staging“). Imaging technology allow doctors to see inside your chest or abdomen to determine the stage of mesothelioma.
These could include chest X-ray, CT scans of the chest & abdomen, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET).
An assigned stage helps determine your prognosis and treatment plan.
Stages of mesothelioma
Stage I is considered localized cancer, meaning it's limited to a small area of the chest or abdomen.
Stage II is considered advanced cancer. Mesothelioma has spread beyond the mesothelium to other body parts such as the lungs or the diaphragm.
Stage III mesothelioma is also considered advanced. Mesothelioma at this stageis similar to stage II but has also spread to the lymph nodes.
Stage IV is an advanced cancer that has spread (metastasized) to distant parts. Mesothelioma most commonly spreads to the brain and lung that are away from the tumor.
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