Mesothelioma can take a long time to incubate in the human body before symptoms will appear. This presents a huge challenge to doctors in diagnosing Mesothelioma. Patients in many cases are not aware that they have Mesothelioma. About 2,500 people are diagnosed with Mesothelioma annually. With such a small number in comparison to other cancers, many do not even think to ask their doctors to check for its existence.
Doctors will immediately start looking for signs of Mesothelioma in the tissues and lining surrounding the lungs, heart and stomach area if a patient discloses a history of exposure to asbestos. A full examination will more likely determine the possible cause of the patient's discomfort. If the patient is experiencing difficulty in breathing, a chest X-ray will be including within the full examination.
The physician may also order several pulmonary procedures in order to test the lung area since three quarters of all Mesothelioma cases occur in the lining around the lungs. CAT scans and MRI tests may be ordered if the pulmonary tests show the probability of Mesothelioma. These tests should be able to confirm or eliminate the diagnosis of Mesothelioma. If test results are positive for Mesothelioma, they can also aid in the determination of the size and location of any tumors that are a product of the disease.
The physician may run a follow-up test, particular a procedure known as a biopsy, to further evaluate the affected area. The biopsy procedure involves the removal of a small piece of tissue from the affected area where the presence of Mesothelioma is suspected. The tissue can then be tested further to discover the type of Mesothelioma tumor that is present. If the tissue is diagnosed as benign, this usually means it is not cancerous. Benign tumors can still produce symptoms that are uncomfortable for the patient. However, benign tumors are rarely fatal. Malignant Mesothelioma tumors are cancerous and can threaten the life of the patient.
Physical Examination
The initial diagnosis performed by the doctor will include a complete physical exam and review of the patient's medical history. Since Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, the patient should tell the doctor if they have indeed been exposed to asbestos at any time in the past. After the physical exam the doctor should have x-rays of the chest performed and in some cases, pulmonary function tests to determine if the symptoms are inline with Malignant Mesothelioma.
CT Scans and MRIs
The doctor may order CAT Scans and/or MRIs to assist in the diagnosis of Mesothelioma. This will allow the doctor to determine the size, location and the extent of Mesothelioma tumors in the chest or abdomen.
Biopsy
The steps described above are only preliminary procedures to determine if Mesothelioma exists in the patient. If, after performing these procedures, the doctor suspects that the patient has Mesothelioma, a biopsy should be performed so that it can be determined if the tumor is benign or malignant. A biopsy involves the removal of a part of the tissue where Mesothelioma is suspected for further microscopic evaluation by a pathologist. There are different ways to perform a biopsy and the method used varies depending on the location selected for tissue removal. For instance if the location is in the chest area the doctor will perform a Thoracoscopy. With this procedure, the doctor will make a small cut through the chest and will insert a small tube called a Thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. This type of biopsy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is found within the abdomen, the doctor may perform a Peritoneocopy. This type of biopsy will have the doctor create a small opening in the abdomen and insert a special instrument called a Peritoneoscope into the cavity of the abdomen. If these tests do not provide enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
Blood Tests
A new and promising method to detect mesothelioma is MESOMARK assay. This is a blood test used to detect peptides released into the blood stream by Mesothelioma cells. Patients usually have an elevated MRP in their blood stream years before actual diagnosis is made. It is only used to follow someone already diagnosed with Mesothelioma (of an epitheloid type) to give an indication of whether or not the cancer is growing. To read more please see the MESOMARK news story to find more detailed information on MESOMARK. Please also see the section on FDA. With the diagnosis of Mesothelioma, the doctor will want to discover the extent of the disease the patient is currently in before determining the proper treatment plan. Staging involves more tests in an attempt to find out if the cancer has spread and to what parts of the body. Mesothelioma will be described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It will be classified as advanced if it has spread to other membrane surfaces or parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall or abdominal organs
Doctors will immediately start looking for signs of Mesothelioma in the tissues and lining surrounding the lungs, heart and stomach area if a patient discloses a history of exposure to asbestos. A full examination will more likely determine the possible cause of the patient's discomfort. If the patient is experiencing difficulty in breathing, a chest X-ray will be including within the full examination.
The physician may also order several pulmonary procedures in order to test the lung area since three quarters of all Mesothelioma cases occur in the lining around the lungs. CAT scans and MRI tests may be ordered if the pulmonary tests show the probability of Mesothelioma. These tests should be able to confirm or eliminate the diagnosis of Mesothelioma. If test results are positive for Mesothelioma, they can also aid in the determination of the size and location of any tumors that are a product of the disease.
The physician may run a follow-up test, particular a procedure known as a biopsy, to further evaluate the affected area. The biopsy procedure involves the removal of a small piece of tissue from the affected area where the presence of Mesothelioma is suspected. The tissue can then be tested further to discover the type of Mesothelioma tumor that is present. If the tissue is diagnosed as benign, this usually means it is not cancerous. Benign tumors can still produce symptoms that are uncomfortable for the patient. However, benign tumors are rarely fatal. Malignant Mesothelioma tumors are cancerous and can threaten the life of the patient.
Physical Examination
The initial diagnosis performed by the doctor will include a complete physical exam and review of the patient's medical history. Since Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos, the patient should tell the doctor if they have indeed been exposed to asbestos at any time in the past. After the physical exam the doctor should have x-rays of the chest performed and in some cases, pulmonary function tests to determine if the symptoms are inline with Malignant Mesothelioma.
CT Scans and MRIs
The doctor may order CAT Scans and/or MRIs to assist in the diagnosis of Mesothelioma. This will allow the doctor to determine the size, location and the extent of Mesothelioma tumors in the chest or abdomen.
Biopsy
The steps described above are only preliminary procedures to determine if Mesothelioma exists in the patient. If, after performing these procedures, the doctor suspects that the patient has Mesothelioma, a biopsy should be performed so that it can be determined if the tumor is benign or malignant. A biopsy involves the removal of a part of the tissue where Mesothelioma is suspected for further microscopic evaluation by a pathologist. There are different ways to perform a biopsy and the method used varies depending on the location selected for tissue removal. For instance if the location is in the chest area the doctor will perform a Thoracoscopy. With this procedure, the doctor will make a small cut through the chest and will insert a small tube called a Thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. This type of biopsy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is found within the abdomen, the doctor may perform a Peritoneocopy. This type of biopsy will have the doctor create a small opening in the abdomen and insert a special instrument called a Peritoneoscope into the cavity of the abdomen. If these tests do not provide enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.
Blood Tests
A new and promising method to detect mesothelioma is MESOMARK assay. This is a blood test used to detect peptides released into the blood stream by Mesothelioma cells. Patients usually have an elevated MRP in their blood stream years before actual diagnosis is made. It is only used to follow someone already diagnosed with Mesothelioma (of an epitheloid type) to give an indication of whether or not the cancer is growing. To read more please see the MESOMARK news story to find more detailed information on MESOMARK. Please also see the section on FDA. With the diagnosis of Mesothelioma, the doctor will want to discover the extent of the disease the patient is currently in before determining the proper treatment plan. Staging involves more tests in an attempt to find out if the cancer has spread and to what parts of the body. Mesothelioma will be described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It will be classified as advanced if it has spread to other membrane surfaces or parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall or abdominal organs
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