| Diagnosis of mesothelioma is a difficult procedure. It is | | | | then a biopsy is performed for confirming the |
| to analyze the symptoms in the initial stages. The | | | | diagnosis. The location of the cancer can be |
| symptoms of this rare disease make the diagnosis | | | | determined with the help of performing the biopsy. If |
| very difficult even to a doctor, since the symptoms | | | | the biopsy test confirms the presence of |
| would be very similar to other common diseases in the | | | | mesothelioma, the stage of the cancer is then |
| early stages of this deadly disease. Delay in the | | | | determined. A series of tests are performed to |
| diagnosis is very common in most of the cases. As a | | | | determine the amount of cancerous cells that have |
| matter of fact these symptoms can appear as | | | | spread. |
| non-specific to both the patient and their doctors. | | | | If the test shows that the cancerous cells are not |
| A careful assessment is needed in the diagnosis of | | | | developed beyond the membrane, then the disease is |
| mesothelioma which relates both the clinical and | | | | considered to be localized. During this diagnosis |
| radiological findings. The tissue biopsy is also confirmed | | | | procedure, various tests are performed such as the |
| carefully along with the above factors. The reviewing | | | | imaging tests, which includes the use of x-rays; CT |
| of the patient's medical history can be very helpful to | | | | (Computed Tomography) scans; MRI (Magnetic |
| diagnose mesothelioma. Observation of the disease | | | | Resonance Imaging); PET (Positron Emission |
| and the history includes details such as the patient's | | | | Tomography); bronchoscopy or mediastinoscopy, used |
| asbestos exposure, the complete physical examination, | | | | to look into the affected area; cytology, used to test |
| x-ray results of the chest and abdomen, and the lung | | | | the pleural fluid after it is removed by a needle; |
| function tests. | | | | thoracoscopy, used to look directly into the tumor; |
| A Computerized Tomography (CT) scan or Magnetic | | | | needle biopsy; and open biopsy. Those are the major |
| Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan may also be taken at | | | | tests that are performed during the mesothelioma |
| this level. If the preliminary test results prove suspicious, | | | | diagnosis. |