Type Of Mesothelioma: Diagnosis

Mesothelioma Biopsies
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Patients that are exhibiting mesothelioma symptoms such as a large buildup of fluid in the chest or abdomen, and that have a history of asbestos exposure, will frequently be sent for a biopsy of the fluid and/or tissue by their doctor. There are two primary types of biopsies that mesothelioma patients may undergo: needle biopsies and surgical biopsies.
Mesothelioma is a disease that is characterized by a long latency period and symptoms that often mimic those of more minor upper respiratory conditions. As a result, diagnosis of this cancer is often delayed. Frequently, by the time that a patient is diagnosed with the disease, it has progressed to advanced stages where therapeutic treatment options become more limited.
This section discusses the types of biopsies that may be performed, which biopsy procedures are recommended depending on where the fluid buildup is occurring and the types of information that can be acquired through biopsy to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma.

Needle Biospy

A fine needle biopsy is considered to be a closed biopsy procedure and therefore less invasive than open surgical biopsies. Pleural biopsy is the most common closed biopsy procedure that is performed to aid in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. Other types of closed biopsy procedures include thoracentesis and paracentesis . This section discusses each of these procedures in more detail including their primary purpose, how they are performed, what to expect and any risks associated with them.

Surgical Biopsy

Surgical biopsies are open procedures and are more invasive than the aforementioned needle biopsies. As a result, doctors take a more conservative approach with them and prescribe them when the less invasive biopsy procedures yield inconclusive results or if it is indicated that it would not be safe to perform them. In this section, learn about the different types of surgical biopsies that are available including why they are performed, what to expect if your doctor recommends one and what the associated risks are.

Imaging Scans
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If an individual presents symptoms of mesothelioma cancer like pleural or peritoneal effusion, dysphagia, shortness of breath, wheezing or chest pain, a physical examination along with a complete review of the individual’s history may lead to a preliminary diagnosis. The physical examination may include listening to the lungs for raspy or cloudy breath sounds.
Often, other tools are used to ensure the right diagnosis including imaging scans, CT scan, PET scan or x-ray. If these tools point to mesothelioma, a biopsy may be taken from the affected tissue to confirm the diagnosis.
With these symptoms along with known asbestos exposure, an imaging or a magnetic resonance imaging scan (MRI) may be ordered. Magnetic resonance scan is a common diagnostic tool used with pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma.
By taking tomographic images or small pictures of tissues through magnetic fields and radio waves, an MRI can produce an accurate picture of the affected area. These images provide contrast between tissues where cancers can be spotted. The powerful magnetic field of an MRI magnetizes atoms and with radio waves changes the magnetization. Through this process, a clear image of the scanned area is projected.
MRIs can highlight malignancies from regular, normal tissue. Since a MRI does not use ionizing radiation like CT scans or x-rays, it is relatively harmless to individuals. Further, MRIs provide better contrasting images than CT scans which can expedite a proper, correct diagnosis. For pericardial mesothelioma, the rarest form of the cancer, MRIs may be used to image the heart and may provide better results than other imagers.
Since MRIs are relatively new medical diagnostic tools, and with mesothelioma they have not been regularly used. With the combination of better contrasting imaging and little harm caused to individuals undergoing the scan, MRIs may be one of the better diagnostic tools available for mesothelioma.
Like the advent of the MRI on the medical field, other advancements in treatment for mesothelioma are also rapidly progressing. Armed with these diagnostic tools and improved treatments, individuals battling malignant mesothelioma may have a better prognosis than that if they were diagnosed years ago.

Diagnostic Imaging Tools

PET Scan

A PET Scan is a nuclear medicine imaging technique. It can provide doctors with a three-dimensional image of an area as well as information about the function of the tissue in that area.

MRI

An MRI or magnetic resonance image is a preferred diagnostic tool that mesothelioma doctors use to detect the presence of mesothelioma. It can also be used to identify the stage that the cancer has progressed to.

CT Scan

A CT scan, or computed tomography scan is capable of providing images of the same location from many different angles. CT scans, in some cases, are more useful in helping doctors diagnose pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma.

X-Ray

X-ray exams are frequently used by doctors as a first level diagnostic tool to understand what may or may not be going on in a particular area and to identify if additional testing is needed. Chest x-rays are often used to diagnose pleural mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis
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How do medical professionals diagnose mesothelioma?

If you believe that you may have mesothelioma, a qualified medical professional will use a variety of diagnostic tests and methods to confirm the presence of the disease.
The first step that mesothelioma doctors will take in evaluating an asbestos related disease is to obtain a full medical history to determine the level and severity of mesothelioma risk factors and presenting mesothelioma symptoms. This interview will consider among other things, where asbestos exposure occurred, the length of exposure and the amount of asbestos that you were exposed to.
In addition, he/she will perform a medical exam to look for signs and symptoms of various types of mesothelioma. For example, if pleural mesothelioma is suspected the doctor will look for fluid in the chest, peritoneal mesothelioma often shows fluid in the abdomen and pericardial mesothelioma presents with fluid in the area of the heart.

Diagnostic Tests

Imaging Scans

Diagnostic image tests like x-rays, CT scans and MRI's are useful in obtaining more information about the cancer including how far it is progressed. Each method provides another piece of information for your doctor to assist him/her in making an accurate diagnosis. Chest x-rays are used to identify abnormalities in the lungs including unusual thickening, mineral deposits and fluid in the chest area. CT scans are capable of providing images of the same location from many different angles. MRI technology uses magnetic fields rather than x-ray to provide additional views.

PET Scan - Positron Emission Tomography, more commonly referred to as a PET scan, is a nuclear medicine diagnostic technique. Nuclear medicine involves introducing a small amount of radioactive material into the body (in this case, intravenously) to help doctors determine if the body is functioning properly. PET scans in mesothelioma patients are often used in conjunction with CT scans. PET scans can be particularly helpful in determining if the cancer has metastasized beyond its point of origin.
CT Scan - A Computer Tomography scan or CT scan, as it is more often referred to, is a commonly utilized method for locating the tumor in the body and determining the extent of the disease. Doctors will often prescribe a CT scan if mesothelioma is suspected because it offers more detail than a traditional X-ray. The CT scan provides cross-sectional imaging of the internal body structures that can be reconstructed on a computer monitor.
MRI - A magnetic resonance image, more commonly referred to as an MRI, is a noninvasive method used for diagnosing mesothelioma within the body. The MRI uses a magnetic field and radio frequency pulses, transmitting them to a computer. Traditional MRI equipment consists of a cylinder within which the patient lies. The MRI poses no risk for patients, though some find the enclosed spaces uncomfortable. These patients may request a mild sedative to allow them to remain still and calm during the procedure.
X-Ray - An x-ray is a commonly utilized mechanism not only for cancer diagnosis but for many different respiratory abnormalities, including bronchitis and pneumonia. Nevertheless, given that the symptoms of these respiratory disorders closely mimic those of malignant mesothelioma, often a chest x-ray is the first imaging technique used in a mesothelioma diagnosis. X-rays are particularly adept at identifying the proliferation of fluid within the pleural cavity, a symptom of mesothelioma known as a pleural effusion. If effusion is detected in the pleural cavity, doctors will often prescribe a surgical biopsy to test the fluid for malignant mesothelioma cells.

Biopsies

A biopsy is an important diagnostic procedure recommended by doctors for patients presenting with signs and symptoms of mesothelioma that have a history of asbestos exposure. Fine needle aspiration is the less invasive type of biopsy that can be performed. More invasive surgical biopsies are recommended if results from a needle biopsy are inconclusive or if a needle biopsy is not recommended for medical reasons.

Needle Biopsy- The needle biopsy is considered the less invasive biopsy procedure. A pleural biopsy is generally recommended for patients in whom mesothelioma is suspected. Fluid is extracted through a syringe and then tested for the presence of malignant cells. Upon determining the presence of malignant cells, cancer specialists will determine the cellular classification of the malignancy and if mesothelioma is, in fact, present. The extraction of fluid from the pleural cavity, chest wall, or abdominal is also used as a palliative procedure to alleviate patient symptoms.
Surgical Biopsy - A surgical biopsy is a far more extensive procedure than needle biopsy. Nevertheless, these procedures are sometimes necessary to make a conclusive diagnosis of mesothelioma. Surgical biopsy can be particularly useful once a diagnosis has already been established. For instance, a mediastinoscopy is a procedure, which assists physicians in staging the cancer. Once cancer is effectively staged, treatment recommendations can be made based on the best possible scenario for each individual patient’s circumstances.

Type Of Mesothelioma

Kamis, 24 Januari 2013