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Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Because mesothelioma symptoms do not often develop until 20 to 50 years following exposure to asbestos, mesothelioma diagnosis often comes after the patient has full-blown cancer. Additionally, a mesothelioma diagnosis can be difficult because its symptoms are similar to numerous other conditions.

Nevertheless, an early mesothelioma diagnosis is the best way to improve one’s prognosis. If you have developed symptoms you think might by caused by mesothelioma, it is a good idea to seek medical attention to rule out or confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma
To confirm or rule out a mesothelioma diagnosis, a doctor will first collect detailed information about your medical history. It is important to tell your doctor if you have ever been exposed to asbestos or been in an environment where asbestos exposure was possible. After your medical history has been obtained, a doctor will typically perform a physical examination, chest x-rays, and/or lung function tests.

In addition to these tests, CT (or CAT scans) and MRI are typically performed if a mesothelioma diagnosis is still possible. If any of these tests reveal an abnormal amount of fluid present in the heart, chest, or abdominal areas, some of this fluid may be extracted with a syringe and sent off for analysis. This procedure is known as cytology. For suspected pleural mesothelioma, cytology is done via a chest drain or pleural tap.

If cytology shows doesn’t rule out a mesothelioma diagnosis, a biopsy of the affected mesothelial lining will be required to make a definitive mesothelioma diagnosis. A more innovative blood test, called the Mesomark assay, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2007. This can be used to make an early mesothelioma diagnosis, which can improve a patient’s prognosis. This test measures the levels of SMRPs, or soluble mesothelioma related proteins, in the affected bodily tissues.

Other surgical biopsy procedures, such as laparoscopy and thoracoscopy, may also be used to make a definitive mesothelioma diagnosis.