Diagnosis of mesothelioma should begin with a review of the patient’s complete medical history, including any exposure to asbestos. A complete
physical exam may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function studies. A CT scan or MRI may also be useful. A biopsy is
needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a sample of tissue is removed and is examined under a microscope. The way in which a
biopsy is performed depends on the location of the abnormal area. If a biopsy does not yield enough tissue samples, more extensive diagnostic
surgery may be necessary. If the patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, the physician will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. This
involves more tests to see if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Knowing the stage helps the physician develop a plan of treatment.
Shortness of breath and chest pain are common symptoms of pleura mesothelioma. These symptoms result from of the accumulation of fluid in the pleura. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain and swelling. Abdominal swelling is due to a buildup of fluid in the abdomen. Bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever may also be symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma. If the cancer has spread beyond the mesothelium to other parts of the body, symptoms may include pain, trouble swallowing, and swelling of the neck or face. Many symptoms of mesothelioma are similar to those of a number of other diseases, making diagnosis often difficult. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until up to 50 years after asbestos exposure.
The exact cause of mesothelioma is not known. However, working with asbestos is the major risk factor for mesothelioma. Asbestos is the name of a group of minerals that occur naturally as masses of strong, flexible fibers that can be separated into thin threads and woven. Asbestos had been widely used in many industrial products, including cement, insulation, brake linings, roof shingles, textiles, and flooring products. Small asbestos particles can float in the air and may be inhaled or swallowed, causing serious health problems. A history of asbestos exposure is reported in approximately 75 percent of all cases of mesothelioma. There have been a small number of reported cases in individuals with no known asbestos exposure. Smoking does not appear to increase the risk of mesothelioma. However, the combination of smoking and asbestos exposure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cancer of the air passages in the lungs.
Mesothelioma is a rare disease in which malignant cells are found in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a protective membrane that covers most of the internal organs of the body. It is composed of two layers. The first layer immediately surrounds the organ. The second layer forms a sac around it. The mesothelium produces a lubricating fluid that is released between the two layers. This fluid allows moving organs to glide easily against adjacent structures. The cells of the mesothelium become abnormal and divide without control or order. They can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs. The cancerous cells can also spread to other parts of the body. In most cases mesothelioma begins in the pleura (membrane surrounding the lungs) or the peritoneum (membrane covering the heart).
There are several treatments for mesothelioma. The most common treatments are surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery is where the affected tissue is cut out. Radiation is where radiation is applied to the affected area to kill of the cancerous cells. Chemotherapy is where cancer killing drugs are in put in the body intravenously to kill off the cancerous cells.
There are other forms of treatments for patients with mesothelioma such as immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is where the affected cells are removed activated and then those cells are reintroduced in the patient’s body. This procedure is usually done with other forms of treatment such as chemotherapy. Studies have shown that in some cases the merthosothelioma tumor have been successfully shrunk in size. Some of these common treatments for mesothelioma are not always effective, so many mesothelioma suffers take part in new clinical trial studies.
Mesothelioma is not ways easy to diagnose because the symptoms mimic other diseases. After a thorough assessment by the physician, testing procedures such as x-rays, CT scans and MRI scans will began. The doctor then may perform a needle biopsy or and open biopsy to collect tissue samples that will be examined by a pathologist. The tissue samples are tested to see if there are malignant cells present.
A needle biopsy is done by inserting a hollow needle through the skin into the suspected area in the body and a small tissue sample can be collected. Most physicians prefer to use an open biopsy because they can collect a larger tissue sample, thus making diagnosis easier and more accurate. Due to the difficulty of diagnosing mesothelioma, it is very important that the patient inform the doctor if they have with asbestos.