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Let Mesothelioma Testing Put Your Mind at Ease

If you or a family member has been exposed to asbestos and exhibit symptoms of mesothelioma, you should contact a physician immediately. If you do so, here’s an idea of what you can expect.

Initial Physical Examination

The examination will focus primarily on your lungs and abdomen. Your physician should especially be alert to any buildup of fluid in the chest or abdominal areas. Additionally, your physician should pay close attention to the sound of your lungs upon inhalation, as the lungs tend to exhibit a specific crackling sound.

Diagnostic Tests

If a doctor suspects you have mesothelioma, he/she might suggest that diagnostic tests be performed. These may include:

• Imaging tests
• Blood and fluid tests
• And possibly tissue sampling

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests help determine the location, size, and extent of malignant mesothelioma. A chest x-ray may show irregular thickening of the lining of the lungs, calcium deposits on the lining, or fluid in the chest cavity.

A computed tomography (CT) scan may also be performed, as it is useful in the initial diagnosis of mesothelioma and in determining the stage of the cancer. An instrument much like an x-ray machine, except large enough to circle an entire body, scans and produces an image that will show a detailed cross-section of a specific region of the body. A CT scan may be performed additionally with the use of a radiocontrast agent. A radiocontrast agent is a substance that acts as a short-lived dye within the body, outlining and highlighting internal structures.

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is also commonly performed. An MRI produces a more detailed cross-sectional image of the body than a CT scan, and can also produce parallel images of the length of the body. This scan shows detailed images of the body and its internal components.

An additional imaging test focuses on how cancer cells utilize sugar more quickly than healthy cells. In a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, a patient is injected with a radioactive sugar solution, which a cancerous tissue is likely to absorb. The radioactive deposits can be seen allowing doctors to determine whether tissue is cancerous or merely scar tissue. PET scans have also shown to help in spotting the spread of malignant mesothelioma.

Blood and Fluid Tests

Doctor’s will have the patient's blood tested for a protein called osteopontin. While an elevated level of osteopontin will not rule out the possibility of other adverse health conditions, it can raise suspicion that mesothelioma may be present.

A doctor may also run fluid tests on patients who suffer from ascites (a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity) or a pleural effusion. After the doctor removes the fluid by inserting a needle into the chest or abdominal cavity, the fluid is viewed to determine whether cancer cells are present. If cancer cells can be seen, further testing will be done to conclude whether the cancer is mesothelioma or a different type.

Tissue Sampling

When an imaging test or a physical examination raises concerns that a tumor has developed, a biopsy may be conducted to test the actual tissue. A tissue sample may be obtained in several ways:

Small tissue—If a small tissue sample must be removed, doctors can do the procedure by making a small incision in the patient's chest (during a thoracoscopy) or abdomen (laparoscopy). A flexible tube that is connected to a video camera is inserted into the incision, allowing doctors to locate the tissue. The tissue is then removed with special forceps and will be tested by a pathologist to determine if it is cancerous.

Airway tissue—If tumors are located along the patient's airway, a bronchoscopy may be ordered. During a bronchoscopy, a doctor will insert a flexible viewing tube down the patient's airway through the mouth. Again, the camera attached to the tube will allow the doctor to seek out irregular tissue, remove it, and send it to a pathology laboratory for testing.
Metastasized tissue—If a doctor wants to determine whether a cancer has started to metastasize or needs to distinguish lung cancer from mesothelioma, he/she may call for a mediastinoscopy. For this procedure a tube is inserted through an incision under the sternum, allowing the doctor to view and remove lymph nodes in the chest.

Large tissue—More invasive surgery is required to remove larger tissue samples or the tumor itself. In such cases, either a thoracotomy (which opens the chest cavity) or a laparotomy (which opens the abdominal cavity) will be suggested.

Have You Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, and want to speak with a professional about your legal rights, please fill out this form for FREE case evaluation. Once Seeger Weiss LLP receives your inquiry, a member of its experienced staff will contact you.