Mesothelioma Advice Help

by Dhyar Irdiansyah

Many of the internal organs of the body protected by a membrane called the mesothelium. This membrane actually consists of two layers of cells. Layer around the organ, and the second is a sac that surrounds the layers. When the internal organs of this membrane must move, expand or contract - such as heart, lung, cancer, bladder, and so on, they can do because mesothelium produces lubricating fluid between two layers.

Most often begins mesothelioma of the pleura or peritoneum. Pleura surrounding the lungs and chest cover. Peritoneum closed some organs in the abdominal cavity. Other mesothelium tissue is also vulnerable to mesothelioma. These include the pericardium that surrounds and protects the heart, testic tunica vaginalis that surrounds the internal reproductive organs of men, and that uterine serous membrane that covers the internal reproductive organs in women.

Who is at greatest risk to develop mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma has a very specific cause - exposure to asbestos. During the first half of the previous century, right up until the mid 1970s asbestos was an important material used to insulate buildings, machines, heavy equipment, and a broad range of commercial applications. Because it was plentiful and inexpensive to mine, asbestos was used in many building products such as home insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles. It was also used in commonly found commercial products such as brake linings and pipe insulation.

This meant that millions of people were coming in contact with asbestos on a daily basis. And since the effects of exposure to asbestos fibre often do not become apparent for 30 or 40 years after prolonged exposure, companies and health officials were slow to recognize the dangers of asbestos. As a result, shipyard workers, men and women working in asbestos mines and mills, workers producing asbestos products, workers in the heating and construction industries, and virtually all other tradespeople were exposed to asbestos fibres for extended periods of time.

Today it is understood that anyone working with or near asbestos has an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, so there are strictly controlled limits of exposure in the work place. But since the dormancy period of mesothelioma can often be 30 or 40 years, there are millions of workers who are at risk because of their exposure in the decades before the safety controls were put in place.

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?
Pleural mesothelioma - cancer of the pleura or lung lining - causes shortness of breath or chronic coughing. Other symptoms of pleural mesothelioma may include chest pain, chronic coughing, shortness of breath, fatigue, wheezing, hoarseness, weight loss, or blood in the phlegm from the lungs when coughing.

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining around the stomach and intestines and is usually just as dangerous. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include pain or swelling in the abdomen, weight loss, bowel obstruction, anemia, and fever.

Many of the symptoms of mesothelioma can easily be mistaken for allergies or a common cold. Mesothelioma is often discovered when patients think they have one of these other common illnesses.

For More Information about Health Care you can read http://www.healthcarechange.org

About the Author
Dhyar Irdiansyah writer of Health Care Change

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Stages and Diagnosis of Mesothelioma

by margaretatwood3

There are three staging systems used to determine dealing in support of mesothelioma: But chart System, TNM System, and the Brigham System
But chart Staging System

The Butchart System is the oldest practice and the largely mutual. This practice concentrates winning determining the magnitude of primary lump accumulation and divides mesothelioma into four stages.

Stage I in Butchart System of mesothelioma in the lining of the reasonable or absent lung and might moreover mean the diaphragm on the same fringe. Stage II includes the succession of mesothelioma into the chest wall, throat, or lung lining on take the trouble sides. There might moreover be lymph nodes in the chest. The arrival of Stage III begins after the mesothelioma surpasses the diaphragm into the lining of the abdominal cavity or peritoneum. Hip this stage the cancer might moreover affect the lymph nodes extending clear of persons in the chest. Doctors identify Stage IV, the final stage, after evidence of the open out of cancer to other organs (metastasis) is definite.

TNM System

Stage I In TNM System of the justification or not here lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same characteristic. At this stage, lymph nodes are not involved. Stage II begins what time mesothelioma spreads from the lining of the lung on solitary characteristic to a lymph node on the same characteristic. At this stage, the cancer may well furthermore multiply to the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same characteristic. Stage III begins what time mesothelioma is offering in the chest wall, muscle, ribs, focal point, throat, or other organs in the chest on the same characteristic as the primary growth. During the final stage, Stage IV, the mesothelioma has travelled into the lymph nodes in the chest on the characteristic opposite the primary growth, into the lung opposite the primary growth, or quickly into the organs in the abdominal cavity or spit. Metastasis is the final effect in this stage.

Brigham System

The Brigham System determines the resectability (the capability to surgically remove) the mesothelioma mountain. Featuring in Stage I the swelling is resectable, while lymph nodes hang about unaffected. Featuring in Stage II the swelling remains respectable but the mesothelioma affects the lymph nodes. Featuring in Stage III the swelling becomes unresectable. It has penetrated through the diaphragm, or peritoneum. Stage III can occur with or exclusive of lymph involvement and extends into the chest wall and kindness. Stage IV occurs as soon as doctors discover metastatic disease concerning distant organs.

After doctors identify the stage of a patient's evil mesothelioma, the tolerant and doctor consider the various behavior options free. Mesothelioma behavior programs are contingent winning many factors, as well as the stage of the cancer, the location of the cancer, the open out of mesothelioma cancer, and the characteristics of the cancer cells under a microscope and the patient's age and concerns.

If you would like to learn more, please visit: {a href= http://www.newmesotheliomapatient.com/}Nwmesotheliomapatient , Mesothelioma

About the Author
There are three staging systems used to determine dealing in support of mesothelioma: But chart System, TNM System, and the Brigham System

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How A Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Is Made

by Thomas Ajava

Being diagnosed with any form of cancer is rough. Mesothelioma is very rough because the prospects of a successful recovery are low. That being said, many are confused about how this form of cancer is actually diagnosed.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium. The mesothelium is a two layer lining that surrounds all the internal organs in the chest and abdomen area. It acts as a lubricating wall that lets organs move about with a minimum of problems. How does cancer get into the mesothelium? The most common cause by far is exposure to asbestos. Yes, it is "that" cancer you've read about in all the big class action cases and on 60 Minutes and other television shows.

One of the big hurdles with Mesothelioma is treating it. It is a devilish form of cancer because of two reasons. The first is the gestation time. Up to 50 years can pass before it starts causing symptoms. By that time, it is often too late to do anything. The second reason it is hard to diagnose is the symptoms are the same as many other health problems that are less dire. In many cases, the disease is actually initially misdiagnosed as something else. Only when repeated treatment options don't work is an accurate diagnosis made.

So, how does one diagnose Mesothelioma? It usually starts with a chest x-ray. Lung function tests are then undertaken. No blood is drawn as this form of cancer does not have any biomarkers, the items looked for in cancer blood tests. Depending on results, your doctor may then also order an MRI to isolate some area of the body. What does all of this tell your doctor? That you MIGHT have something going on. Mesothelioma is that hard to find.

If Mesothelioma is expected, a biopsy will be ordered. There are different types of biopsies for the different areas you might be having problems. The mesothelium runs through the chest and abdomen, so it could be anywhere. Regardless, the biopsy will generally involve an oncologist making a small insertion into the body cavity and then running a scope into it. The area in question will be viewed and small samples will be taken. The samples will be sent to pathology where lab tests will determine if cancerous cells are present or not. Then, and only then, will you really know if you have Mesothelioma.

About the Author
Thomas Ajava is with PortArthurMesotheliomaAttorneys.com - find top quality Port Arthur Mesothelioma attorneys for your case.

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Mesothelioma - Trends in Diagnosis and Discovery

by Thomas Ajava

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that involves the mesothelium lining found in the chest, lungs, abdomen and general body cavity. It is a form of cancer and is associated most closely with exposure to toxic asbestos dust.
Being diagnosed with any form of cancer is simply bad news. There is no two ways around it. In the case of Mesothelioma, the cancer in question is very treacherous for a variety of reasons. Fortunately, there are tendencies that occur in case after case and are now considered established trends. Let's take a closer look at a few.

Time

Mesothelioma is extremely difficult to deal with because it takes a very long time to manifest. From the date of exposure and breathing in of asbestos fibers into the lungs, it can take 25 to 40 years for the cancer to manifest. This is why Mesothelioma is still such a problem despite most forms of asbestos being banned in the late 1980s. It is yet another reason why you should also be getting regular checkups.

Righty - Lefty

Mesothelioma tends to appear in the right side of the body cavity around the lungs. Why? The right and left lungs are situated differently into the body cavity as the heart takes up space on the left. Regardless, the trend is definitely for Mesothelioma to show up on the right side, odd as that may seem.

Sex and Race

Mesothelioma is not an equal opportunity health threat. Men tend to be diagnosed with it far more than women, sometimes as much as five times more often in a particular area. It also strikes Caucasians far more than African Americans although no particular reason for this has been discovered.

Getting Checked

Many victims of Mesothelioma do not realize they have a health problem at first. This is understandable given the long time it takes for the cancer to manifest. Still, most victims will take as long as two years to go see a doctor after the onset of symptoms. Given the fact a yearly checkup should be done, this is unfortunate.

Mesothelioma is fairly rare, but a brutal form of cancer. If you believe that you've been exposed to asbestos at any time, make sure to consult with your medical professional as soon as possible for both an exam and plan for future monitoring.

About the Author
Thomas Ajava writes for TXAsbestosLawsuit.com - where you can can learn more about asbestos lawsuits in Texas.

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Mesothelioma - What Tests Are Used to Diagnose It?

by Thomas Ajava

Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that is closely associated with asbestos exposure. It can take up to 40 years from the time of exposure for the cancer to manifest. Given this long period, what tests are used to diagnose it?
A common test used in cancer situations is a blood test. Blood is examined for something known as biomarkers. Certain biomarkers are indicative of certain types of cancer. For instance, CA 15-3 is a biomarker that indicates breast cancer in women. Unfortunately, there is no known biomarker at this point in time for Mesothelioma. In fact, blood tests do not provide any information to a physician regarding whether a patient has this form of cancer.

A chest x-ray is really the first line of attack against Mesothelioma when it comes to diagnostic tests. These x-rays are not particularly sensitive, but they present a global look at the chest area. This means the radiologist and physician can identify tumors, scaring and areas of fluid buildup. All are potentially problematic, particularly tumors which can be benign or can metastasize and spread.

Assuming the doctor sees something of interest or concern, he or she may next order a CAT scan. CAT stands for computerized axial tomography and essentially means a three dimensional view of the area in question. A CAT scan can better define the shape, size and characteristics of a mass. That being said, such a scan cannot tell the doctor if the mass is Mesothelioma or not. They can, however, be very helpful in determining if the problem is in an early or late stage.

MRIs are used in many medical practices as diagnostic tools. The trend in Mesothelioma cases is to forgo MRIs for PET scans. A PET scan is a test that shows the usage of glucose. Cancerous tumors, particularly Mesothelioma, tend to use much more glucose than health material. A PET scan can reveal this and helps get to the heart of the problem, to wit, do you have cancer or not.

It is important to understand that none of these diagnostic tools will absolutely tell you and your doctor if Mesothelioma exists. They will simply narrow down the possibilities. Ultimately, any mass is going to have to be biopsied. This involves the actual removal of some of the cells of the mass so that they can be looked at under a microscope. Only then will you know one way or another.

About the Author
Thomas Ajava writes about asbestos health issues for AsbestosHealthIssues.com.

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Mesothelioma Cancer: Diagnosis Of Mesothelioma Cancer

by Georage Clark

Beginning with diagnosis mesothelioma with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests is performed. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

Such sophisticated imaging procedures as MRIs and CT scans usually offer a fairly clear diagnosis, but doctors almost always recommend one more test before coming to a definitive conclusion about any type of cancer. That test is known as a biopsy.

A biopsy, derived from the Greek word meaning "view of the living", involves removing a sample of fluid or tissue from the affected area and sending it to a pathologist for examination. The biopsy is done by inserting a thin needle into the area in question.

In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma cancer, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

If the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated the mesothelioma symptom is described as localized. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

Visit website for pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, mesothelioma causes.

About the Author
Georage Clark has experience related to health. They gave valueable time of his life to health research and also giving time to atledo.com website.

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How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed? - An Analysis

by Johanes Stones

Diagnosing mesothelioma is not an easy job. In fact many doctors are still unfamiliar with the symptoms that can to be attributed to this cancer. Moreover the symptoms of the disease do not generally manifest for several years after contraction. This makes this disease even more difficult to be diagnosed at a proper time and often it becomes too late for any doctor to do anything really constructive. So the first thing that you should do is to inform your doctor in advance if you are regularly exposed to asbestos. Otherwise after seeing the symptoms he may put those down to some other disease before testing for mesothelioma.

The diagnosis of mesothelioma begins with a CT or MRI scan to detect its presence and if the results show any positive sign then a biopsy is conducted. The initial scans help the doctor to view the affected area so that he can prepare a suitable plan to counter it. The doctor may do a minor operation to get a tissue sample of your lungs or other body part and run a biopsy on that. This is known as open pleural biopsy. While there are many other techniques to find the evidences of mesotheliom, experts consider pleural biopsy to be the most convincing way of diagnosing mesothelioma.

There are more than a few ways in which the doctor can perform a tissue biopsy in order to test for mesothelioma. A thoracoscopy or laparoscopy involves making a small cut and then keeping an eye over the infected area with the help of a tiny camera. Your doctor may do a needle biopsy in which a hollow needle is inserted into the chest cavity in order to collect a tissue sample which is then examined by the pathologist.

However, with open biopsy the doctor can collect a bigger tissue sample which makes diagnosis easier and even more precise which is why most physicians adhere to this technique. Once the tissue samples have been collected, a detailed examination of the cells is performed to check for malignant cells in the tissue. When all of this has been done, some more tests are performed to determine the extent of mesothelioma so that treatment can be done accordingly.

About the Author
I started the site Mesothelioma Straight to inform people on mesothelioma. Please take a look at this mesothelioma information if you want to find out more.

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5 Things To Do If You Are Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

by Steff X

Mesothelioma is a cancer in the lining of the lung, called the pleura as a result of significant asbestos exposure. It is a silent killer that only produce symptoms 20 to 40 years from the initial exposure when it is often too late for curative treatments.

Because most patients have only months to live after diagnosis, you need to know what to do right from the very beginning to safeguard your survival and the welfare of your family member.

Step #1 Seek a second opinion. One doctor can put you strictly on palliative (comfort)treatment while others will give you treatments to kill cancer cells. Get your doctor to run through each treatment review to see which one is applicable to you. Should you decide to try alternative treatment to complement your conventional therapies, talking to more medical experts can also give you new insights and ensure that those treatments dont't clash.

Step #2 Engage a mesothelioma lawyer to represent you in filing for compensation. Mesothelioma is predominantly caused by asbestos, a known cancer-causing agent that kept on being used for more than 50 years despite its hazardous nature. A good mesothelioma lawyer not will ensure you get in the justice you deserve in financial compensation to pay for medical fees and other expenses.

Note that certain states have a time restriction in filing for a claim, so make sure you do this soon.

When doing this, be sure to ask your lawyer questions such as his past experience and success rates. Since mesothelioma law is considered a lucrative field in law, there are too many lawyer who jump into this field when they do not specialize in it, thus having lower chance of victory.

Step #3 Do not stop at conventional treatment at the doctor's office. Seek out alternative mesothelioma cancer treatment such as traditional chinese medicine (TCM), Brandt grape therapy, Bill Henderson's protocol, Simoncini baking soda treatments and other alternative can reportedly reverse the effect of cancer.

You'll be surprised that there are so many things you can do where you feel helpless before. Alternative cancer treatment is a broad subject and it offers exciting possibilities though most do not or cannot afford to have clinical proven research done.

Step#4 Change your lifestyle and diet. Needless to say, you must absolutely stop smoking. Stay away from smoke-filled environment and inhaling second-hand smoke. Detox your body regularly and adopt a mainly vegan diet. Exercise at least half an hour a day everyday to keep you active.

Step#5 Maintain a positive attitude in fighting mesothelioma. Read up on it, understand it and you will know how to contain it. New drugs and treatments are found all the time so be sure to keep yourself informed.

Patients are usually too devastated to realise that there are 101 things they can do to change or improvised the situation they are in, upon learning about their illness. When they do eventually see the whole picture, it's too late to act. Do not make the same mistake, with a little knowledge and guidance, you can beat mesothelioma.

About the Author
Lung cancer is the #1 killer of men and women in the United States.Visit http://www.AsbestosLungCancerTreatment.com for the latest information on lung cancer and how to reverse lung cancer using gentle, alternative methods.

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Diagnosis Mesothelioma - Tips On Diagnosis Mesothelioma And safety At Workplace

by Pius Ephenus

Diagnosis mesothelioma is a scary subject you don't want to talk or hear about. It is a heart wrenching news for you and your family. But fortunatelly, over the years scientist has been able through research to detect and treat mesothelioma. There are a lots sites online filled with helpful informations. There are also support groups and help mechanisms put in place for every stage of this dreadful disease. Mesothelioma disgnosis does not guaranteed a grim prognisis; therefore, in most cases early detection of the disease as with any cancer is important so that it can be treated early.

Simply put, the diagnosis of mesothelioma is the first step on a road to discovery. There are many websites to aid in the publics’ research of mesothelioma and the warning signs that lead to early diagnosis and subsequently the blessing of early treatment. It is common to treat a diagnosis of mesothelioma with surgery and chemotherapy or surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Mesothelioma is also known as the asbestos cancer. Mesothelioma shows subtle variations from asbestosis or asbestos pleural disease. Regardless it is highly recommended if you have worked around asbestos in anyway or form that you are checked for mesothelioma on a regular basis. Early diagnosis is imperative. Some of the varied warning signs include shortness of breath as well as pain in the lower back or pain at the side of the chest. Others signs may include hoarseness, difficulty swallowing or sweating and fevers.

Prognosis defers significantly among people that have been disgnosed with mesothelioma and this depends on a number of factors. These causes have a significant impact on the speed of recovery; the size of the cancer, what part of the body it is found, and how far it has spread. And also, how the cancer cells looks under the microscope, and their respond to treatment as well as the age of the patients has direct bearings on recovery time.

There are legal issues involved with a diagnosis of mesothelioma. There are several lawsuits against companies whose employees were exposed to asbestos. These are definitely matters to be researched if you are among the individuals who qualify involvement in a lawsuit. If you are uncertain whether you qualify, you can simply fill out an online form and an attorney will be happy to talk with you. It is not necessary but there are good reasons to acquire an attorney who is knowledgeable in mesothelioma litigation.

There are speciality lawyers and law firms for mesothelioma cases. Most of these specialized attorneys have an impressive settlement record and successes in obtaining verdicts in the courtroom as opposed to settlements out of court. As in most cases, there is money to be dispersed though the monetary value of the settlements are not as important as the impact lawsuits like these will eventually make in the safety issues surrounding workplaces where potentially harmful chemicals can be inhaled or absorbed into peoples bodies.

About the Author
Pius is the owner of waystoquitsmokingeasy.com. We specialize in offering high quality ways to quit smoking, acne treatment, women health, weight loss, nutrition, mental health, and how to make mesothelioma claim informations. visit us for more.

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How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

by Ivan Chia

Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. A CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. A CT scan is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. In an MRI, a powerful magnet linked to a computer is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed.

A biopsy is needed to confirm a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In a biopsy, a surgeon or a medical oncologist (a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer) removes a sample of tissue for examination under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be done in different ways, depending on where the abnormal area is located. If the cancer is in the chest, the doctor may perform a thoracoscopy. In this procedure, the doctor makes a small cut through the chest wall and puts a thin, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between two ribs. Thoracoscopy allows the doctor to look inside the chest and obtain tissue samples. If the cancer is in the abdomen, the doctor may perform a peritoneoscopy. To obtain tissue for examination, the doctor makes a small opening in the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a peritoneoscope into the abdominal cavity. If these procedures do not yield enough tissue, more extensive diagnostic surgery may be necessary.

If the diagnosis is mesothelioma, the doctor will want to learn the stage (or extent) of the disease. Staging involves more tests in a careful attempt to find out whether the cancer has spread and, if so, to which parts of the body. Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan treatment.

Mesothelioma is described as localized if the cancer is found only on the membrane surface where it originated. It is classified as advanced if it has spread beyond the original membrane surface to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes, lungs, chest wall, or abdominal organs.

About the Author
Ivan Chia is an active online content writer. If you would like to learn more about mesothelioma, please visit: Mesothelioma Resource.

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Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis

By Alison Cole

The most critical form of mesothelioma is the malignant form. Known as malignant mesothelioma, the primary causal factor is asbestos infection. According to the US National Cancer Institute, "Malignant mesothelioma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)."

Mesothelioma can be classified into three types – pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura), peritoneal mesothelioma refers to a cancer of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) lining, and pericardial mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the lining that surrounds the heart (pericardium). The subtypes of mesothelioma are of three basic types, one very aggressive, one least aggressive, and one lying between the two extremes.

Malignant mesothelioma can be diagnosed through several imaging techniques. These imaging techniques enable physicians to assess mesothelioma. Once mesothelioma is suspected, patients are advised to undergo several tests, like X-ray, Computed Tomography (CT) scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. The physician may also like to undertake special mesothelioma tests like thoracoscopy, peritoneoscopy and biopsy.

Learning about the stage of mesothelioma is a critical factor that helps physicians to decide the treatment plan. If the cancer is confined to the pleura, mesothelioma is considered localized. If the cancer spreads beyond the pleura and to other parts of the body such as the lungs, abdominal cavity, lymph nodes and the chest wall, mesothelioma is considered to be in an advanced stage.

The oft used and the oldest system for determining the stages of mesothelioma is the Butchart System. The Butchart System is based on the extent of the primary tumor mass available in a patient. This system divides mesothelioma into four stages. The TNM system, a slightly advanced system over the Butchart System, determines staging through variables of tumor in mass and the spread, the lymph node involvement and metastasis. However, the latest system is known as the Brigham System, where staging is done as per the respectability and lymph node involvement. In spite of such modern techniques, a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma still remains possible through fluid diagnosis and tissue biopsy.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis provides detailed information on Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnosis, Mesothelioma Diagnosis Support, Mesothelioma Doctors and more. Mesothelioma Diagnosis is affiliated with Mesothelioma Asbestos Diseases.

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How to diagnose mesothelioma?

by Archana Sarat

Qualified medical professionals perform mesothelioma diagnosis. A wide range of tests and procedures are done to find out whether the disease is present. Mesothelioma diagnosis is a difficult procedure as the symptoms of mesothelioma are very similar to other benign diseases. This coupled with the fact that mesothelioma has a huge latency period makes patients and their doctors dismiss the symptoms of mesothelioma as signs of ageing. Only after detailed testing because of recurring symptom mesothelioma is confirmed.

Review of medical history of patient

The medical history of the patient will be reviewed in the first place. This is because the doctor will need to determine the extent and the severity of the risk factors and the symptoms of mesothelioma. Also, the doctor can find out the nature of asbestos exposure of the patient, how long and how much they were exposed. One another point the doctor will want to know is whether you were a smoker or not. This is because smokers have a higher risk of contracting mesothelioma as compared to non-smokers.

The doctor will also conduct some preliminary examinations to determine the type of mesothelioma. This can be found out by checking for fluid. When fluid is found in the chest. It is a case of pleural mesothelioma. When fluid is in the abdomen, it is a case of peritoneal mesothelioma and when fluid is in the heart, it is a case of pericardial mesothelioma.

Diagnostic tests:

CT scans, x-rays and MRIs are very useful in determining the spread of the cancer. These diagnostic image tests help to determine the stage of mesothelioma. All the methods are very useful and they help in making a more detailed diagnosis. The CT scans help in getting a 3D view of the inside body parts. Thus, the same part can be viewed from various angles. Unlike x-ray, MRI uses magnetic fields to view the body parts.

Testing fluid and samples of tissues:

In case of mesothelioma, fluid may build up in chest, abdomen or heart. In such cases, the medical professional will take a sample of this fluid and test it. The sample will be drawn via a long needle and then, it will be tested in a laboratory. The doctor in certain cases of mesothelioma may also prescribe a bronchoscopy procedure. Sometimes, certain tissue samples may be taken to perform further testing. Persons having lung cancer or pleural mesothelioma may also have lymph nodes affected by the disease. These patients may be advised to undergo a mediastinoscopy. This procedure helps the doctors to find out how far the disease has affected the lymph nodes. This will help in a better diagnosis of mesothelioma. It will also help in determining the stage of mesothelioma.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is a very complex procedure involving a lot of steps. While the first symptoms are completely misleading, the later symptoms are also not conclusive. Fluid build up in the body organs alone is not a sign of mesothelioma. Only specialized medical personnel in highly specialized laboratories can correctly determine mesothelioma. This is the reason why many mesothelioma cases go undocumented. It is necessary that all countries fund and encourage their researchers and medical professionals to find an easy and simple diagnostic procedure for mesothelioma.

About the Author
Archana Sarat is a freelance writer and research expert. She shares her knowledge of mesothelioma at http://mesothelioma-guidance.blogspot.com To know more about mesothelioma go to http://www.rarehope.com

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Medical mesothelioma diagnosis

by Mr.sc. Adam Vrancic

Medical thoracoscopy in the diagnosis of unexplained pleural effusion.

Respirology 1998 Jun;3(2):77-80

Wilsher ML, Veale AG

Respiratory Services, Green Lane Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Approximately 20% of pleural effusions remain without an established aetiology after evaluation. Thoracoscopy has a very high sensitivity for the diagnosis of both benign and malignant diseases and greatly increases the diagnostic yield for pleural effusion. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic yield and safety of medical thoracoscopy at this institution.

The records of all patients undergoing medical thoracoscopy for the evaluation of undiagnosed pleural effusion between 1990 and 1996 were reviewed. The procedure was performed under local anaesthesia with sedation using a Stortz rigid thoracoscope. Fifty-eight patients had thoracoscopy, most having had two (range: 1-6) non-diagnostic pleural aspirations and biopsies of the pleura. Nineteen patients were found to have mesothelioma and nine metastatic malignancy. Three patients were considered likely to have tuberculous pleural disease, six had asbestos related benign pleural fibrosis and three post-cardiotomy syndrome.

There was one chylous effusion of uncertain aetiology, one posttraumatic and two other benign effusions, both of which resolved without clear aetiology. On seven occasions the pleural space could not be adequately accessed, but none of these patients had prior computerized tomography (CT) or ultrasound of the pleural space. There were five false negative diagnoses of malignancy, but no false positives.

The diagnostic sensitivity for pleural malignancy was 85% and specificity 100%. There were no major complications, but four patients had late tumour seeding at the thoracoscopy site. Medical thoracoscopy is a safe procedure with a high diagnostic yield. Pre-operative evaluation of the pleural collection using ultrasound or CT increases the likelihood of successful access to the pleural space and may increase diagnostic yield.

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