- The most common presenting symptoms of mesothelioma are shortness of breath and non-pleuritic chest pain.
- Weight loss, fatigue, fever, and sweats are other symptoms of mesothelioma.
- The lung exam may reveal dullness to percussion and diminished breath sounds.
- Another physical exam finding may be finger clubbing which is also found in asbestosis.
- Radiographic studies may aid in the diagnosis of mesothelioma.
- Chest x-rays may reveal nodular, irregular, unilateral pleural thickening and unilateral pleural effusion.
- CT scans are helpful in determining the extent of pleural involvement.
- Abdominal CT may show sheet-like masses involving the omentum and mesentery.
- Pleural fluid is usually exudative and may be hemorrhagic, but this is not diagnostic.
- Open pleural biopsy is necessary for histologic diagnosis.
- Histological types of mesothelioma are epithelial, sarcomatous, or mixed.
- Special stains and electron microscopy may be needed to confirm the histologic diagnosis.
- Diagnosis of mesothelioma is confirmed by thoracoscopy or pleuroscopy.
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