Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Part I: Symptoms of Mesothelioma
It general takes between 15 and 50 years from exposure to asbestos before mesothelioma develops.
Pleural Mesothelioma - symptoms include shortness of breath and chest pain. This is caused by a build up of fluid in the pleura.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma - symptoms include loss of weight, abdominal pain and swelling, bowel obstruction, blood clotting abnormalities, anemia, and fever.
These symptoms could also be caused by other less serious conditions so it is important to see a doctor to make a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Part II: Methods of Diagnosis
There will generally be a number of tests taken to diagnose mesothelioma. These include taking a tissue sample for a biopsy.
Needle Biopsy - This uses a large needle, inserted into the area under investigation. This is used to collect a tissue sample for later analysis. The patient is under anaesthetic during the procedure. As only a small amount of tissue can be taken using this method, it has proven to be a less effective method of diagnosis.
Open Biopsy - This procedure is also used to take a sample of cells to test for Mesothelioma. The patient is given a general anesthetic during this procedure. It is generally the most common method of diagnosis for Mesothelioma as it is the most effective in providing an accurate result. This is because it allows for a larger sample to be taken than when using a Needle Biopsy.
X-Rays - Xrays can sometimes be used to diagnose Pleural Mesothelioma. If cancer is present it will appear as a mass covering the surface of the pleural mesothelium.
Peritoneoscopy - This may be used to diagnose Peritoneal Mesothelioma. During this procedure, a tool called a peritoneoscope is inserted into the abdomen to If a patient may be suffering with Peritoneal Mesothelioma the doctor may look inside the abdomen. They will do this with a tool called a peritoneoscope to provide a diagnosis. This is inserted into an opening made in the abdomen, generally conducted under general anesthetic.