Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Diagnosing mesothelioma often means ruling out many diseases with similar symptoms before completing the diagnostic process. The diagnosis of mesothelioma is often difficult and typically occurs in a late stage of development. The patient will give a medical history, which will include answering questions about their history of exposure to asbestos. Other diagnostic tests include x-rays, CT scans, or MRI scans. The purpose of these tests is to try to see any shadowing, or tumor growth. In the case of pleural mesothelioma, lung function tests are performed. Lung function tests are an extensive battery of tests that show the physician how much air your lungs can hold and how well they transport oxygen through the body and release carbon dioxide. Once a physician makes a preliminary diagnosis, you will be referred to an oncologist. Most doctors will have an idea about whether you are dealing with mesothelioma or not following tests, but a definitive diagnosis will not be made until after the oncologist completes a biopsy. A biopsy is a medical procedure that removes a small section of tissue from the affected area. This tissue is then sent to a pathologist who will examine the tissue and make the official diagnosis of mesothelioma.
The symptoms of pleural mesothelioma are similar to many other illnesses. In most cases, a patient will experience shortness of breath, coughing and chest pains, which can easily be mistaken for more common disorders. Many even delay a visit to their doctor because they believe the symptoms are signs of a minor illness.
Approximately 25 percent of people that have pleural mesothelioma symptoms experience them for six months or more before they are diagnosed. This is unfortunate because pleural mesothelioma generally reaches the advanced stages of development before any symptoms appear and any delay in detection can have an effect on treatment options. Anyone who has been exposed to asbestos should thus be evaluated by a physician specializing in asbestos-related illnesses on a regular basis.
Once tissue and/or fluid samples are obtained, a pathologist will examine them under a microscope. Because pleural mesothelioma cells can look like other types of cancer cells, a more powerful electron microscope is sometimes used to help distinguish the cells. Special laboratory tests of the cells are often needed to make a diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. Immunohistochemistry testing examines proteins on the surfaces of cells and can determine if a tumor mass is pleural mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Once a diagnosis of mesothelioma is made, the oncologist will want to determine what stage the cancer is in. Mesothelioma is considered localized if it is contained to the mesothelium. If it has spread to the lymph nodes, the chest or other organs, then it is considered to be in the advanced stages. Staging the tumor is important because it helps the oncologist determine the best course of treatment. When deciding on a treatment protocol, physicians use the acronym TNM to determine the progression of the cancer. The 'T' refers to the size of the tumor, 'N' signifies whether or not there is lymph node involvement, and 'M' stands for metastasis, or whether the tumor has spread to any other organs. The correct assessment as to the stage of the tumor gives the patient the best hope for a positive outcome.