The procedure of diagnosis of Mesothelioma involves performing several tests and clinical procedures. In the case of Mesothelioma it is most commonly observed that the symptoms of Mesothelioma do not occur very soon and therefore it makes the diagnosis of Mesothelioma very difficult and cumbersome. The disease might be incubated in the body for good about 15-20 years before the symptoms start to appear which there after lead to the diagnosis of Mesothelioma. In general, when a patient approaches a doctor with his symptoms there are a few procedures which the doctor follows before he can decide on a diagnosis of Mesothelioma. A review of the patient’s medical history, including history of asbestos exposure is sought, followed by a complete physical examination, x-rays of the chest or abdomen, and lung function tests. A CT scan or MRI may also be done at this time. If any of these preliminary tests prove suspicious for mesothelioma; a biopsy is necessary to confirm this diagnosis.
To elaborate on the same, when a doctor is approached by a with a history of asbestos exposure or contamination a doctor will immediately start looking for signs Mesothelioma, Since it is the lungs, stomach as well as the heart which are affected by mesothelioma therefore the diagnosis for Mesothelioma in the patient too will concentrate mainly on these 3 vital organs. This will though not rule out general physical examination that will be carried out by the doctor on the patient to establish any other source or reason for his discomfort and symptoms. This will most likely include X rays of his lungs as mostly it si wheezing and persistent coughing that patients suffering from Mesothelioma suffer from.
Apart from the X ray’s there are also present several other tests related to one’s lungs which are prescribed by the doctor to the patient to carry out in order to help him with his diagnosis of Mesothelioma. If all these tests do make the doctor suspicious then he can order the patient to undergo a CT scan and an MRI scan which will make the case all the more clear and help him in strengthening his diagnosis for Mesothelioma. Only when a doctor is almost certain that it is truly Mesothelioma then the last step to help him prove his diagnosis for Mesothelioma would be with the help of a biopsy.
In biopsy a live tissue is taken from the suspected area and is tested for the presence of cancerous cells. If the cells present in the tissue are not cancerous then they are termed as benign. It is only if they turn out to be cancerous then they are referred to as malign and therefore makes it almost certain that that the diagnosis of Mesothelioma is correct in the patient.