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How do doctors make a mesothelioma diagnosis?
Because it masks itself as common illnesses such as a flu or chest cold, making a dignosis of mesothelioma is often necessary with testing. The first step is making sure your physiscian knows that you have experiences exposure to asbestos. Without this information, there is no real reason for them to suspect anything until it's too late. Once they understand your history of being a mesothelioma risk, they will run tests. These tests range from an MRI or CT scan to test for the presence of fluid in the chest, abdomen, lungs or heart to a biopsy if something is found to be exact on their diagnosis.
Common Tests in Diagnosing Mesothelioma Cancers
There are two groups of tests that play into determining a mesothelioma diagnosis. The first group are lower-level tests such as imaging or blood testing. The second group, used when coupling the first group of diagnostics with asbestos material exposure, is more in-depth such as tumor biopsy or pericardium or pleural fluid extraction and diagnosis.
Non-Invasive Mesothelioma Testing:
- Computer Enhanced Tomography:
With a CT scan, doctors can look deeper than a traditional x-ray. CT scans provide the ability to see pleural calcification, chest wall spreading of the cancer and precise positions and sizes of tumors. This test will only show the location but not diagnose the composition of any masses or fluid found.
- X-Ray:
Provide the doctor a view of the heart, lungs and intestinal tract. Often will show tumors from the cancer or fluid build up in the linings around the organs. Most commonly used to diagnose pleural mesothelioma.
- Positron Emission Tomography:
PET scans involve injecting a small amount of an isotope into the body and scanning for the emissions of the product. PET scans will "light up" cancerous masses and are far more efficient than previous image testing to diagnose tumors.
After testing with imaging reveals a suspicion of Mesothelioma, further testing will be done to confirm a diagnosis. These tests usually involve more invasive work, such as a biopsy, bodily scoping of the heart, lungs and/or abdomen; or exploratory surgery. These tests are listed below.
Scope (Peritoneoscope or Thorascope):
Scoping provides the doctor with a look at the possibly affected area. For Abdominal Mesothelioma, a Peritoneoscopy will usually provide a look at the intestinal tract and abdomen. The scope usually goes through the belly-button or hidden area. The scope may sometimes be used to remove fluid from the area for testing, but is almost always performed as an out patient at a hospital.
In the case of Pleural Mesothelioma, a Thorascopy is performed. Despite it's name, the scope is not inserted into the throat. It is placed in-between the patient's ribs through a small incision. Once in the chest, fluid can also be extracted for testing.
Needle Biopsy
A biopsy is a sample of the tissue or fluid that is common in a cancer diagnosis such as mesothelioma. Unless the presence of tumors is available, the physician will often opt for a thorascopic or peritoneoscopic biopsy collection, using a thorascope or peritoneoscope to gather tissue and fluid samples.
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