What Is The Butchart System?
The Butchart System is a tool used to describe the severity of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Because malignant pleural mesothelioma is the most closely studied version of asbestos cancer, it is the only type with a staging system.
Stage I: The tumor is located only in the pleural region, on either the right or left side. The first stage is also referred to as a localized mesothelioma.
Stage II: The tumors are located bilaterally in the pleural region, spreading to the lungs and pericardium. Tumors may have also spread to the lymph nodes in the chest.
Stage III: The tumors have penetrated the diaphragm and are developing in the abdomen. There is an increased likelihood that the asbestos cancer has spread to the lymph nodes outside of the chest.
Stage IV: The mesothelioma has used the bloodstream to spread to distant organs, such as the liver or the pancreas.
