Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Unfortunately, mesothelioma is a very difficult to diagnose as it is often detected well into advance stages of the disease. Often 20 to 50 years will go by from the initial asbestos exposure until characteristics of mesothelioma are evident. Typically, patients are often diagnosed with mesothelioma 3 to 6 months of first signs of the diseases which is most often abdomenal and chest pain and breathing problems.

Patients that are suspected to mesothelioma are given a number of tests to determine whether or not the disease is present. These tests include chest X-rays, CT scan, PET scan, and/or and MRI scan. These tests will determine if and where mesothelioma is present and at what stage.

Doctors will also do tissue and fluid tests (also known as biopsy tests) to determine if cancer cells are present. These tests involve small samples of body tissue and fluids. Such tests may include:

• Thoracoscopy test- a test that is used when pleural or pericardial mesothelioma is suspected. This test involves producing a small tissue through the chest wall via a small incision.
• Fine Needle Aspiration test - a long, hollow needle is used to extract fluid samples from such places as the pleural membrane of the lungs.
• Bronchoscopy and Laparoscopy test - similar to the thoracoscopy test but done in other areas of the body.
• Mediastinoscopy test - used to to view the lymph nodes in the chest and to see the stage of cancer and whether it has spread
  

Laparoscopy of the Abdomen for Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A laparoscopy will be conducted if the suspicous area is in the abdomen. During a laparoscopy, a doctor will insert a special instrument into the abdominal cavity via a small cut. More extensive surgery may be necessary if a laparoscopy procedure can not produce enough tissue for analysis.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma is Difficult

Mesothelioma is a very hard disease to diagnose, because symptoms are like those of a number of other diseases. A doctor's diagnosis of a patient suspected of having mesothelioma begins with a review of their medical history. Exposure to asbestos in years past (event more than 30 years prior) will increase a doctor's suspicion for mesothelioma. A physical examination, chest X-rays and lung function tests will follow itial suspicions. X-ray's may show pleural thickening that are often seen after asbestos exposure which may further give believe that a patient has mesothelioma. CT (CAT) scans or MRIs are also usually conducted. If these analysis show large amounts of fluid, abnormal cells may be detected if this fluid is aspirated or removed with a syringe. If this is pleural fluid, a pleural tap (a chest drain) may be conducted.