Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Diagnosis of mesothelioma can be suspected with imaging but is confirmed with biopsy. It must be clinically and histologically differentiated from other pleural and pulmonary malignancies, including reactive pleural disease, primary lung carcinoma, pleural metastases of other cancers, and other primary pleural cancers.Primary pericardial mesothelioma is often diagnosed after it has metastasized to lymph nodes or the lungs.

Cancer specialists utilize a number of diagnostic tools to accurately confirm mesothelioma, including blood tests such as MESOMARK and SOMAmer panel, imaging tests such as MRIs, CT scans, PET scans, X-rays and biopsies to investigate cancerous growth in tissue samples.

There are three steps to the mesothelioma diagnosis:

Symptoms Begin to Show

Patient detects symptoms, which generally start to appear 20-50 years after exposure. These symptoms often mimic those of other diseases.

Patient Consults Primary Care Physician

The primary care physician discusses symptoms with patient. These doctors perform preliminary tests. If cancer is suspected, they refer patient to an oncologist.

Oncologist Makes Final Diagnosis

The oncologist conducts a variety of tests based on the patient's health. Tests may include imaging scans, blood tests and biopsies to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Biopsy

A biopsy is a crucial diagnostic procedure doctors use to detect mesothelioma. They are performed to determine whether a suspicious lesion is cancerous and can also be useful when trying to distinguish a specific type of cancer. Performing a biopsy is one of the most definitive ways to ensure diagnosis an accurate of asbestos cancer.

Blood Tests and Biomarkers

While imaging tests and tissue biopsies are the most common methods for diagnosing mesothelioma, blood tests can also help doctors identify the disease. These blood tests look for certain indicators of disease, known as biomarkers, in a patient's blood.

Mesothelioma Latency Period

The latency period refers to the time between initial asbestos exposure and when a doctor definitively diagnoses the cancer. The long period of time between exposure and illness is one of the hallmarks of mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Imaging Scans

Doctors use imaging scans, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRIs and others, as noninvasive tools that help detect tumors in the body when a patient experiences symptoms usually associated with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma.

X-rays
Tumors
CT Scans
MRI Scans
PET Scans

Mesothelioma Pathology

Pathology, the study of the nature of disease and its causes and effects, plays a significant role in the diagnosis of asbestos cancers. Because each type of cancer has particular characteristics, studying the way cancer behaves in the body and how it affects surrounding body tissues and organs can help doctors provide an accurate diagnosis and develop treatment plans for patients.