Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Those with a past asbestos exposure history experiencing symptoms should consult a physician with experience in accurately diagnosing mesothelioma. The earlier mesothelioma is diagnosed, the more likely it is to be caught at an early stage.  

1. Perform one or more imaging tests (x-ray, CT scans, PET, or MRI) to identify potential tumors.
2. If such a tumor is detected, one or more blood tests may be performed to look for certain biomarkers (high levels of specific substances in the blood).
3. If these tests point toward the possibility of mesothelioma, the diagnosis will need to be verified through a biopsy – usually through a thoracoscopy, thoracotomy, thoracentesis, or mediastinoscopy.

Misdiagnosis is easy with malignant mesothelioma, because the disease’s symptoms so closely resemble those of other related conditions such as lung cancer or other respiratory ailments.