Diagnosing

It can be difficult to get Mesothelioma Diagnosis because the symptoms are so common.

Diagnosing this disease can be difficult because the disease is rare enough to cause many doctors not be familiar enough with it. Therefore, getting a Mesothelioma Diagnosis can be delayed due to the early symptoms of mesothelioma appearing to be non-specific to both a patient and his or her doctor. If you suspect any possible exposure to asbestos then let your doctor know so a complete exam can be done.

"...then a tissue biopsy would be performed to confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis."

Mesothelioma diagnosing will occur through a thorough assessment of radiological and clinical exams which could be followed by a tissue biopsy. The doctor will typically review your medical history to include any possible asbestos exposure. Then a complete exam will be performed as well as abdominal and chest x-rays. A CT scan or MRI may also be performed. If the doctor has any indication of possible mesothelioma then a tissue biopsy would be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

A biopsy can be performed one of two ways. First, it can be performed using a needle under a general anesthetic and withdrawing some fluid surrounding the lungs. This method isn't quite as reliable as a tissue biopsy. Pleural biopsy consist of extracting a piece of tissue through a small incision in the chest wall. A peritoneal biopsy is similar to the chest counterpart. A small incision is made in your abdomen and a peritoneoscope which is an instrument to look at your organs is inserted into the abdominal cavity to visually determine the diagnosis.