Mesothelioma Diagnosis

As previously stated, MPM is one of the rarest tumors in medical history and it is therefore extremely difficult to diagnose and treat. For decades doctors have attempted to discover the origin of the tumor and an effective method to treat it. Although much progress has been made in research there is still a long way to go to find a cure for the disease. Because the disease is so rare the number of patients available for studying is limited. Physicians began documented research of mesothelioma in the early 1920’s. Many studies began about the progression of the tumor and people suffering from the effects of lung cancers. One of the most documented studies, which linked the tumor to asbestos, was performed near the mines of South Africa in 1960. Since that time there has been ongoing research of the disease and its cause.

MPM has been diagnosed by many different means. One of these is by a routine chest x-ray or a CAT scan. The chest x-ray documents the condition of the pleural fluid and any tumors that may be growing in the pleural region. These will show up as a large mass on the x-ray. The thickening of the pleural fluid surrounding the lung would most likely point to MM. The CAT scan is a useful aid alongside the x-ray to further document finer details of pleural masses and fluid.

Electron microscopy may also be used to detect the location of malignancy by testing samples of pleural fluid. MPM specifically is often diagnosed by the insertion of an instrument into the pleural cavity in a procedure known as a thoroscopy. Many different types of biopsies may be performed to study the lung tissue more in depth. The main focus of detection methods is the status of the pleural fluid and if there are any tumors or growths around the pleural cavity. Any abnormalities in these areas would most likely suggest that the tumor is malignant rather than benign. In addition to radiology, physicians may also test extracted cells for malignancy with certain chemicals that will turn colors or create a certain reaction when mesothelioma is present in them. A combination of any of these diagnostic tools may be used to distinguish a malignant from a benign tumor. The more tests that are performed, the more accurate the diagnosis is likely to be.