Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Individuals with mesothelioma usually notice pain or a "heavy" or full feeling in the involved area. If mesothelioma occurs in the pleural tissues, shortness of breath is noticed. If mesothelioma occurs in the peritoneal tissue, abdominal swelling may develop. A chest x-ray or CT scan will nearly always show a mass accompanied by the accumulation of fluid. A biopsy is necessary to diagnose mesothelioma. But even then the biopsy may be disputed because the microscopic appearance of mesothelioma can be confused with other cancers like lung cancer and sarcoma.

To diagnose a pleural mesothelioma a doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. A doctor will look inside the chest cavity with an instrument called a thoracoscope. The doctor will insert this instrument through a small incision between two ribs. The procedure is done under a local anesthetic or painkiller and is usually performed in a hospital.

To diagnose a peritoneal mesothelioma a doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. A doctor will look inside the abdomen with an instrument called a peritoneoscope. The doctor will insert this instrument through an incision made in the abdomen. This procedure is usually done under local anesthetic and is usually performed in the hospital.

The prognosis for a Mesothelioma diagnosis depends on how early and how aggressively it is treated. The various treatment options include surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.