Mesothelioma Diagnosis Methods

Like other cancers, mesothelioma cancer is diagnosed through symptomatology, patient history, imaging techniques, and biopsy. If a patient presents with the symptoms typical of malignant mesothelioma (chest pains, persistent cough, shortness of breath), the physician will usually inquire into the patient's work history to determine the likelihood that she has been exposed to asbestos fibers. If likely asbestos exposure is established, a test to determine the quality of the patient's lung function will follow, along with one of more types of imaging of the pleural mesothelium.

Should the lung function test reveal abnormalities and/or an X-Ray discover potentially malignant tissue in the mesothelium, the specialist uses CT and/or MRI scans to determine whether a pleural effusion (the principal marker for mesothelioma cancer) is present. Although methodologies are highly effective, a precise diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma depends on a biopsy.

There are three main types of biopsies used by oncologists for cancers in general: excisional biopsy, core biopsy, and needle aspiration biopsy. Core biopsy is generally not indicated to determine the presence of malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma cancer tends not to be highly localized like some other tumors; instead, it is typically spread out through a relatively large portion of the mesothelium. Excisional biopsy is a better alternative for diagnosing mesothelioma.

The least invasive—and therefore most preferred—biopsy method for mesothelioma is called needle aspiration biopsy. Through this method, the surgeon enters the mesothelium with a needle and extracts a small number of cells from the area believed to be affected. A microscopic examination of these cells enable the mesothelioma specialist to determine whether mesothelioma cancer is present.

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