How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

Diagnosing mesothelioma asbestos cancer can be very difficult, because symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of a number of other conditions. The mesothelioma diagnosis process begins with the patient's medical history as well as any history of past asbestos exposure. In this case, a full medical examination may be performed, including x-rays, CT scans and MRI.

After diagnosis and examinations takes place, a mesothelioma biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. In a biopsy, a surgeon or oncologist removes a sample of the patient's tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist.
A mesothelioma biopsy may be done in several ways, depending where the affected area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor will perform a thoracoscopy, if the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor will perform a peritoneoscopy. 

Mesothelioma biopsy and diagnosis will help the doctor learn more about the patient's mesothelioma stage and in addition help with the treatment options.
Mesothelioma is also described as localized malignant mesothelioma if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated.

Once the cancer spreads past this point it is classified as advanced mesothelioma cancer. 

 

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