5 Tools Used In Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Mesothelioma Diagnosis Overview
Mesothelioma Diagnosis is sometimes proven difficult because of the similarity in symptoms for persons suffering from other types of cardio-vascular diseases. Symptoms such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, pain in the chest, could easily be mistaken for another disease. Where diagnosis is necessary, it is therefore important to properly evaluate the patient so that it is quite clear that the patient is suffering from mesothelioma and not another condition such as asthma. It is therefore vital to start with the history of the patient and undertaking a series of tests in order to come to a proper mesothelioma diagnosis. After diagnosis, the patients are best treated in specialist mesothelioma clinics.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis History
The first step in diagnosing a patient for mesothelioma is to look at the patient’s history. The two strongest factors that determine whether a patient has mesothelioma are:
Mesothelioma Diagnosis has to consider the long latency period of the lung disease when testing a patient for the cancer. The asbestos fibres usually stay lodged in the lung for about 25-50 years before cancer symptoms start to surface. That is why being aged between 60-80 years is twinned with the history of asbestos exposure to start diagnosing for mesothelioma.
There are several other minor factors that are considered once there is evidence of the asbestos exposure in a p
atient 60 to 80 years.
These include:
Radiation Exposure is a risk factor in most cancers and mesothelioma is no different. Patients with a history of high exposure to radiation have been shown to have a greater potential of developing the cancerous mesothelioma tumors.
There have been some regions worldwide where some families have been shown to have a greater risk of developing mesothelioma than others. This is considered a genetic disposition. Again this is a rather weak factor as the exposure could be in the particular location where the family lives, for example, a father bringing home the asbestos dust on his clothes. That would make that family at a higher risk than another. Recently, there was a high profile mesothelioma claim case in the UK Courts where a the family of a nurse received a significant mesothelioma settlement after contracting the lung disease from her husband’s clothes when he came home from his work in a boiler room.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis Blood Test
For a patient suspected of having mesothelioma, having a blood test done might provide the conclusion that mesothelioma is present. There is a blood test that measures the amount of the blood serum concentrations of a marker called soluble mesothelin–related protein (SMRP). This blood test helps in diagnosing mesothelioma as SMRP shows high volumes in a person with the disease.
Mesothelioma Fluid Tests
Since there mesothelioma occurs in different areas of the mesothelium, fluid tests are conducted depending on the type of mesothelioma that is suspected. The body produces excess fluid in the areas affected by tumor formation. If pleural mesothelioma is suspect, the fluid in in the mesothelium lining the lung will be tested. If peritoneal mesothelioma is suspect, the fluid in the abdomen’s mesothelium and if pericardial mesothelioma, then the fluid around the heart is tested. If the not so common testicular mesothelioma is suspect, then fluid from the testicles are tested.
Mesothelioma Biopsies
A biopsy is where samples of tissues are taken from a patient as a mesothelioma diagnostic tool for identifying whether or not a patient has the lung disease. There are three types of biopsies used on mesothelioma patients:
1. Core biopsy
2. Exicisional Biopsy
3. Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Core biopsy is when a small piece of tissue from the suspected area is surgically removed for testing. Unfortunately, in most cases of suspected mesothelioma, there is a need to remove the entire lining of the organ. This is called exicisional biopsy. It is a long and delicate operation so a needle aspiration biopsy is preferred by most. It is considerably safer than the other two options and uses a needle to extract cells for testing. It is also known as needle aspiration cytology or just simply needle aspiration.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis Using Imaging Scans
Imaging scans such as the classical X-ray, MRI, PET scan or CT scan can be valuable tools in mesothelioma diagnosis. These scans allow the experts to view the affected area from different angles and view any abnormalities typical of mesothelioma disease. These scans are so effective, they can even show deposits of asbestos and other minerals in the affected area.
Mesothelioma Clinics
If a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is best to receive treatment in specialised mesothelioma clinics. There are mesothelioma clinics all over the United States where there are top mesothelioma doctors and surgeons trained in the care and treatment of mesothelioma patients. They have the best equipment and stay abreast of the latest treatment techniques to offer the best chance of survival and increase life expectancy after mesothelioma diagnosis and help patients through the difficult illness. Mesothelioma patients can benefit from the latest research and clinical trials as new and improved ways are sought to battle the deadly cancer. Like all cancers, early detection is vital and can help patients improve their mesothelioma prognosis. Living in a large city or near a major university helps as these are usually where these cancer clinics are located.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma is not simple and may entail several steps to conclude if a person is indeed infected with the deadly cancer. Diagnosis begins with a careful examination of the patient’s history, then tests such as blood test, fluid test , imaging scans or biopsies to conclude whether a patient has the cancer. The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier the treatment can begin to improve the life expectancy after mesothelioma diagnosis.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis is sometimes proven difficult because of the similarity in symptoms for persons suffering from other types of cardio-vascular diseases. Symptoms such as a dry cough, shortness of breath, pain in the chest, could easily be mistaken for another disease. Where diagnosis is necessary, it is therefore important to properly evaluate the patient so that it is quite clear that the patient is suffering from mesothelioma and not another condition such as asthma. It is therefore vital to start with the history of the patient and undertaking a series of tests in order to come to a proper mesothelioma diagnosis. After diagnosis, the patients are best treated in specialist mesothelioma clinics.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis History
The first step in diagnosing a patient for mesothelioma is to look at the patient’s history. The two strongest factors that determine whether a patient has mesothelioma are:
- Asbestos Exposure.
- Aged between 60 and 80.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis has to consider the long latency period of the lung disease when testing a patient for the cancer. The asbestos fibres usually stay lodged in the lung for about 25-50 years before cancer symptoms start to surface. That is why being aged between 60-80 years is twinned with the history of asbestos exposure to start diagnosing for mesothelioma.
There are several other minor factors that are considered once there is evidence of the asbestos exposure in a p
atient 60 to 80 years.
These include:
- Radiation Exposure
- Being Male
- Genetic Pre-Disposition
Radiation Exposure is a risk factor in most cancers and mesothelioma is no different. Patients with a history of high exposure to radiation have been shown to have a greater potential of developing the cancerous mesothelioma tumors.
There have been some regions worldwide where some families have been shown to have a greater risk of developing mesothelioma than others. This is considered a genetic disposition. Again this is a rather weak factor as the exposure could be in the particular location where the family lives, for example, a father bringing home the asbestos dust on his clothes. That would make that family at a higher risk than another. Recently, there was a high profile mesothelioma claim case in the UK Courts where a the family of a nurse received a significant mesothelioma settlement after contracting the lung disease from her husband’s clothes when he came home from his work in a boiler room.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis Blood Test
For a patient suspected of having mesothelioma, having a blood test done might provide the conclusion that mesothelioma is present. There is a blood test that measures the amount of the blood serum concentrations of a marker called soluble mesothelin–related protein (SMRP). This blood test helps in diagnosing mesothelioma as SMRP shows high volumes in a person with the disease.
Mesothelioma Fluid Tests
Since there mesothelioma occurs in different areas of the mesothelium, fluid tests are conducted depending on the type of mesothelioma that is suspected. The body produces excess fluid in the areas affected by tumor formation. If pleural mesothelioma is suspect, the fluid in in the mesothelium lining the lung will be tested. If peritoneal mesothelioma is suspect, the fluid in the abdomen’s mesothelium and if pericardial mesothelioma, then the fluid around the heart is tested. If the not so common testicular mesothelioma is suspect, then fluid from the testicles are tested.
Mesothelioma Biopsies
A biopsy is where samples of tissues are taken from a patient as a mesothelioma diagnostic tool for identifying whether or not a patient has the lung disease. There are three types of biopsies used on mesothelioma patients:
1. Core biopsy
2. Exicisional Biopsy
3. Needle Aspiration Biopsy
Core biopsy is when a small piece of tissue from the suspected area is surgically removed for testing. Unfortunately, in most cases of suspected mesothelioma, there is a need to remove the entire lining of the organ. This is called exicisional biopsy. It is a long and delicate operation so a needle aspiration biopsy is preferred by most. It is considerably safer than the other two options and uses a needle to extract cells for testing. It is also known as needle aspiration cytology or just simply needle aspiration.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis Using Imaging Scans
Imaging scans such as the classical X-ray, MRI, PET scan or CT scan can be valuable tools in mesothelioma diagnosis. These scans allow the experts to view the affected area from different angles and view any abnormalities typical of mesothelioma disease. These scans are so effective, they can even show deposits of asbestos and other minerals in the affected area.
Mesothelioma Clinics
If a patient is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is best to receive treatment in specialised mesothelioma clinics. There are mesothelioma clinics all over the United States where there are top mesothelioma doctors and surgeons trained in the care and treatment of mesothelioma patients. They have the best equipment and stay abreast of the latest treatment techniques to offer the best chance of survival and increase life expectancy after mesothelioma diagnosis and help patients through the difficult illness. Mesothelioma patients can benefit from the latest research and clinical trials as new and improved ways are sought to battle the deadly cancer. Like all cancers, early detection is vital and can help patients improve their mesothelioma prognosis. Living in a large city or near a major university helps as these are usually where these cancer clinics are located.
Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Diagnosing mesothelioma is not simple and may entail several steps to conclude if a person is indeed infected with the deadly cancer. Diagnosis begins with a careful examination of the patient’s history, then tests such as blood test, fluid test , imaging scans or biopsies to conclude whether a patient has the cancer. The earlier the diagnosis, the earlier the treatment can begin to improve the life expectancy after mesothelioma diagnosis.
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