Peritoneal Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Diagnosis is the process of determining the kind of disease affecting the patient. An accurate diagnosis is important because it helps doctors determine the course of treatment for the patient.
A number of procedures may be used to aid in the diagnosis of mesothelioma, depending on the nature of the patient’s case.
Often the first step in diagnosing a suspected cancer is a CT scan of the area in question. If an abnormality is noted, a PET scan may be performed to test whether cancer is present. Peritoneal mesothelioma is typically diagnosed through a biopsy of the affected tissue. The surgeon may look inside the abdominal cavity with an instrument called a peritoneoscope. To conduct this procedure, the surgeon makes a cut through the abdominal wall and inserts the peritoneoscope into the abdomen. This procedure, called a peritoneoscopy, is typically performed in the hospital. In addition to looking at the affected area, the surgeon may take a sample of tissue, called a biopsy, to send to a special laboratory for testing. If fluid has built up in the abdomen, causing discomfort to the patient, it will often be drained through a procedure called a “paracentesis” to help alleviate the pain. A sample of this fluid can in turn be tested for cancer cells, which may lead to the diagnosis of the disease.
