| helioma is a very rare form of asbestos related | | | | are close to the skin's surface, needle aspiration biopsy |
| cancer that is most effectively treated when detected | | | | (also called fine needle aspiration cytology or fine |
| early. Unfortunately, the nature of the disease and the | | | | needle aspiration) can also be used to diagnose |
| fact that it remains latent for decades usually results in | | | | mesothelioma. Essentially, this technique uses a long, |
| late detection after the cancer has spread to other | | | | hollow needle to remove a sample of cells from the |
| parts of the body, making it extremely difficult to treat. | | | | body to be tested and properly diagnosed. When this |
| One method used in the detection/diagnosis of | | | | method is used to collect samples in mesothelioma |
| mesothelioma is a surgical biopsy. | | | | cancer, the surgeon makes use of certain equipments |
| There are three different types of biopsies available | | | | that help him guide the needle carefully to where the |
| for those who have developed mesothelioma. Biopsy | | | | tumor is located. After the cells are removed from the |
| involves the surgeon removing the tissue in question | | | | body, a pathologist who is a doctor that specializes in |
| for laboratory examination. Three types of biopsy are: | | | | diagnosing diseases using cellular structures examines |
| 1- Incisional biopsy or a core biopsy | | | | the cells under a microscope to determine the |
| In this type of biopsy only a small part of the tissue is | | | | diagnosis. The pathologist employs a number of |
| removed. This type of biopsy is used most commonly | | | | different techniques to diagnose the cells after biopsy, |
| when the tumor is located in an area that is easily | | | | but in most cases the pathologist removes a very thin |
| reached for example in breast cancer, however in | | | | layer of tissue from the sample, places it on a |
| most cases of mesothelioma especially in the pleural | | | | microscope slide, adds dye to make cells more visible, |
| and peritoneal form of the disease the tumor is not | | | | and seals the slide so it can be examined under a |
| easily accessible. So this type of biopsy has very | | | | microscope. |
| limited use in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. | | | | A pathologist is trained to analyze abnormal cell |
| 2- Excisional biopsy | | | | growth, which can indicate mesothelioma as well as |
| In Excisional biopsy the whole tumor mass is removed | | | | other diseases. Other techniques employed by the |
| by the surgeon as compared to incisional biopsy in | | | | pathologist involves the use of biochemical specialized |
| which just a small portion of the tumor mass is | | | | staining procedures to identify specific tumor markers |
| removed. Excisional biopsy naturally comes with | | | | on the cancer cells. |
| greater risks. Surgery is more extensive and time | | | | Biopsy also allows the pathologist to examine the |
| consuming it is also more complicated and the surgeon | | | | possible spread of cancer to other parts of the body. |
| end up removing a significant portion of the sensitive | | | | When the tumors in the body are removed, the |
| linings surrounding major organs. However, it is always | | | | pathologist carefully examines the margins to see if |
| better to operate once very extensively than to make | | | | cancer is present. "Negative margins" means the |
| the patient undergo the same operation twice once | | | | cancer has probably not spread; the appearance of |
| the laboratory tests on the tissue samples confirm the | | | | "positive margins" means there is a good chance that |
| cancer. | | | | the cancer has spread beyond that tumor mass the |
| 3- Fine needle aspiration biopsy | | | | surgeon removed. Mesothelioma spreads quickly, so if |
| The third type of diagnostic biopsy is called needle | | | | the biopsy report indicates the presence of possible |
| aspiration biopsy. In many cases, this is the technique | | | | metastases, additional imaging tests like CTscans, |
| most preferred by surgeons because it is a safe, quick | | | | X-rays, MRIscans, PET scans are used to locate the |
| procedure. Although most often used for tumors that | | | | extent of spread. |