Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis
A number of tests may be used to diagnose pleural mesothelioma. Certain tests are typically run first to look for signs of a possible cancer. If your doctors suspect cancer based on these tests, a biopsy is usually performed to confirm the cancer and determine the type of cancer affecting the patient.
These tests are commonly used in diagnosing pleural mesothelioma:
CT Scan or “CAT Scan”
This test uses a special type of X-ray to provide a detailed picture of the size and location of the suspected cancer, often referred to as a “mass” or “nodules.”
PET Scan
This test looks for “hot spots” in the body indicating the existence and location of a possible cancer. A small amount of radioactive glucose is injected into a vein and a body scanner takes computerized pictures of the body. Because cancer cells use more glucose (a form of sugar) than normal cells, they “light up” on these photographs, indicating the probable presence of cancer.
Thoracoscopy
This procedure allows a surgeon to look inside the chest to view a suspected cancer and to take a biopsy in the process. The doctor will make an incision through the chest wall between two ribs and insert an instrument called a thoracoscope into the chest.
Bronchoscopy
A bronchoscopy uses a special instrument to examine the lungs and air passages. To perform the procedure, a doctor inserts a lighted tube, called a bronchoscope, through the patient’s throat and into the lungs.
Thoracentesis
This is a procedure using a tube to drain the lungs of excessive fluid–called a “pleural effusion”–to alleviate pain and discomfort in the patient. A sample of this fluid may be sent to a cytology lab to test for cancer cells.
Needle Biopsy
To take a needle biopsy, the doctor uses a thin needle to take small samples of tissue to send to a pathology lab to test for cancer. An X-ray, CT scan or fluoroscopy may be used to guide the needle as it is inserted into the area of the body where the cancer is suspected. This is sometimes referred to as a “needle-guided biopsy.”
Wedge Biopsy
For this procedure, a surgeon makes an incision through the skin to remove a wedge of tissue or tumor. It is then sent to a pathology lab for analysis.
