| The most critical form of mesothelioma is the | | | | imaging. The physician may also like to undertake |
| malignant form. Known as malignant mesothelioma, the | | | | special mesothelioma tests like thoracoscopy, |
| primary causal factor is asbestos infection. According | | | | peritoneoscopy and biopsy. |
| to the US National Cancer Institute, "Malignant | | | | Learning about the stage of mesothelioma is a critical |
| mesothelioma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) | | | | factor that helps physicians to decide the treatment |
| cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), | | | | plan. If the cancer is confined to the pleura, |
| the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or | | | | mesothelioma is considered localized. If the cancer |
| the lining around the heart (the pericardium)." | | | | spreads beyond the pleura and to other parts of the |
| Mesothelioma can be classified into three types - | | | | body such as the lungs, abdominal cavity, lymph nodes |
| pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and | | | | and the chest wall, mesothelioma is considered to be in |
| pericardial mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma refers | | | | an advanced stage. |
| to a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal | | | | The oft used and the oldest system for determining |
| mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the abdominal | | | | the stages of mesothelioma is the Butchart System. |
| cavity (peritoneum) lining, and pericardial mesothelioma | | | | The Butchart System is based on the extent of the |
| is a cancer that occurs in the lining that surrounds the | | | | primary tumor mass available in a patient. This system |
| heart (pericardium). The subtypes of mesothelioma are | | | | divides mesothelioma into four stages. The TNM |
| of three basic types, one very aggressive, one least | | | | system, a slightly advanced system over the Butchart |
| aggressive, and one lying between the two extremes. | | | | System, determines staging through variables of tumor |
| Malignant mesothelioma can be diagnosed through | | | | in mass and the spread, the lymph node involvement |
| several imaging techniques. These imaging techniques | | | | and metastasis. However, the latest system is known |
| enable physicians to assess mesothelioma. Once | | | | as the Brigham System, where staging is done as per |
| mesothelioma is suspected, patients are advised to | | | | the respectability and lymph node involvement. In spite |
| undergo several tests, like X-ray, Computed | | | | of such modern techniques, a definitive diagnosis of |
| Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging | | | | mesothelioma still remains possible through fluid |
| (MRI) scans, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) | | | | diagnosis and tissue biopsy. |