Medical Resources to Combat Mesothelioma Lung Cancer

Tests and Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

There are several ways to confirm asbestos exposure. A doctor may analyze your feces, urine or mucous or perform a lung washing. Although these methods can confirm asbestos exposure, there is no way to determine who will develop a disease as a result of the exposure.

To determine whether mesothelioma is present during its earliest stages, a physical examination and several diagnostic tests will be performed along with CT scans or chest x-rays. During Stage I, mesothelioma displays itself as tiny bumps on the pleura's surface. These bumps, which appear on the membrane surrounding the lungs, are called nodules. They usually do not appear in x-rays until more advanced stages of the disease.

Like other respiratory diseases, mesothelioma causes shortness of breath, chest pain, a constant cough and hoarseness. When mesothelioma develops in abdomen, it can cause abdominal swelling and pain. General symptoms of mesothelioma include fatigue, appetite loss, weight loss and night sweats. However, these symptoms are common to many diseases. A series of tests can determine the specific cause of the symptoms.

If you have been exposed to asbestos and are experiencing these symptoms, seek a physical exam with your doctor. You may undergo a urinalysis, respiratory tests or x-rays. If abnormalities are found, you will be sent to a specialist who will arrange a CT scan.

A CT scan creates a 3-D picture of internal organs by taking several x-rays from different angles. These scans usually take 30 minutes and involve a minimal amount of radiation exposure. If you need a CT scan, you must refrain from drinking or eating four hours before the scan. Before the procedure, you will be injected with a dye that makes certain areas of your body more visible in the scan. Inform your doctor before the CT scan if you are allergic or asthmatic to iodine.

A CT scan will reveal any excess fluid in the abdominal or chest cavities as well as thickening of the peritoneum or pleura. However, these can be signs of several diseases. To confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis, other tests will be performed. One test that may be conducted is a peritoneal or pleural aspiration. During this procedure, a needle syringe will be inserted to draw fluid from the abdomen or chest. Once this fluid is obtained, a lab will determine whether it contains cancerous cells. 

A biopsy can also be conducted to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. During a biopsy, a tissue sample will be obtained from the abnormal area. An oncologist will put a small tube with a small light and camera into the abdomen or chest. The device will collect a sample of the tissue, which will be examined by a pathologist.

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