After a mesothelioma patient has been seeing a physician for complaints related to breathing or pain for generally three to six months, a diagnosis of this rare cancer could be determined. Once this diagnosis has been made, it is important for you to describe your medical history in detail to your physician. Be sure to discuss your other health concerns and symptoms.

When having this discussion with your physician, be sure to inform him or her if you may have ever been exposed to asbestos. It is important that your physician take this exposure into consideration so he or she can screen you for illnesses related to this exposure. At that point the physician will test you for any diseases that may be the culprit of the symptoms you are experiencing. Frequently the doctor recommends that additional testing be conducted.

Tests for Diagnosing Mesothelioma

Once mesothelioma is a suspected cause of symptoms, tests will be run to confirm the presence of this illness. This is done in order to find the type and location of the cancer, and the extent to which it has spread. The patient will undergo tests for imaging various parts of the body, possibly including:

X-ray of the Chest – Most screenings for this cancer are conducted via this type of test. There may be more advanced testing afterward.

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan – This test is similar to the X-ray test, but it involves the combining of multiple X-rays with computer imaging technology, which offers physicians a comprehensive look at the patient’s tissues. In order for your test to be accurate, you may be injected with dye to help highlight the tissues being imaged.

Positron Emission Tomography (PET) Scan – During this test, the patient is injected intravenously with a glucose liquid, after which a machine is utilized to locate malignant cells. These types of cells are easy to find during this test, as they metabolize sugars more rapidly than the body’s normal cells do.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Scan – Radiologists view the results of these tests, which are conducted to develop thorough images, viewable in three dimensions. A magnetic field is used for this test, in addition to radio waves.

Testing Body Tissues and Fluids

Biopsies are conducted to gather samples of the patient’s tissues or fluids and examine them for malignant cells. A biopsy can be any of the following:

Needle Aspiration Biopsy – Because this type of cancer results in the buildup of fluid in the area affected, it can be detected using this kind of biopsy, in which the physician inserts a needle that is very thin, long, and hollow in order to collect fluid for examination.

Thoracic Cavity Biopsy – When pericardial mesothelioma is the likely cause of symptoms, this biopsy is performed. Tissue is extracted from the wall of the chest with a minimal incision.

Bronchial Biopsy and Abdominal Biopsy – Like the thoracic cavity biopsy, these biopsies are performed to diagnose mesothelioma in specific areas. The bronchial biopsy checks for the cancer in the trachea and bronchial tubes, and the abdominal biopsy checks the abdominal cavity.

Mediastinum Biopsy – This biopsy checks the lymph nodes to determine if the cancer has spread.