Mesothelioma Diagnosis

How Is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

Patients who have potential symptoms of mesothelioma should promptly see a doctor to get a diagnosis. Specialists can recommend tests to help diagnose this cancer, allowing patients to get top treatments sooner.

A diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma typically involves:

1. Basic health assessment: A doctor will conduct a physical exam to check for symptoms like a cough or shortness of breath. Be sure to mention if you were ever exposed to asbestos, the only known cause of this cancer.
2. Imaging tests: Computed tomography (CT) scans, X-rays, and more allow doctors to check for signs of mesothelioma inside the body.
3. Blood tests: These allow doctors to identify specific indicators of mesothelioma and rule out other health issues.
4. Biopsies: Doctors remove a sample of tissue or fluid and look for mesothelioma cells under a microscope. This is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Speak with a nurse now for help getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis and finding the best treatments for your case.

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Mesothelioma Tests for Diagnosis

Doctors use a wide range of tests to help confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis and rule out other conditions. A biopsy is the final and most conclusive test.

Learn about the different tests used in making a mesothelioma diagnosis below.

Imaging Scans for Mesothelioma

Imaging tests allow doctors to see the inside of your body and locate any abnormalities that could be causing possible mesothelioma symptoms.

Types of imaging tests for mesothelioma include:

• X-rays are the most common imaging scan. They provide a two-dimensional view of the body.
• CT scans create higher-resolution X-rays at cross-sections of either the whole body or part of it.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans use a strong magnet and a computer to create detailed pictures. MRI scans are typically better than CT scans for imaging soft tissues.
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scans use an injected radioactive tracer to locate mesothelioma cells in the body. They are often combined with CT scans.

These scans are completely painless, but some may require you to sit still for an hour or more.

Mesothelioma Blood Tests

Blood tests can help rule out other health conditions and show doctors mesothelioma biomarkers (signs of disease).

For example, MESOMARK is a mesothelioma blood test that looks for the protein SMRP in the blood. High levels of SMRP indicate that cancer cells are spreading at out-of-control rates.

Other blood panels can help doctors assess a patient’s expected health outcome with mesothelioma.

Biopsies to Confirm a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A biopsy is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis. It involves doctors removing fluid or tissue samples so a pathologist can review them for cancer under a microscope.

Common mesothelioma biopsy types include:

• Endoscopic biopsies involve inserting a long, flexible tube with a camera into the body. The doctor uses the endoscope to collect a biopsy sample. Types include thoracoscopy, laparoscopy, and mediastinoscopy.
• Fine-needle biopsies use a long needle linked to a syringe to gather sample cells for lab analysis. Fine-needle biopsy tests include thoracentesis, paracentesis, and pericardiocentesis.
• Liquid biopsies diagnose mesothelioma by allowing doctors to get cancer cells without taking tissue. However, these are often less accurate, so tissue biopsies are preferred.
• Open surgical biopsies involve making an incision in the chest (thoracotomy) or in the abdomen (laparotomy). The surgeon removes a larger tumor sample or takes out the whole tumor.

Open surgery biopsies are the most extensive, requiring anesthesia and a longer recovery. Endoscopic and fine-needle biopsies are far less invasive and may only require local anesthesia and less recovery time.

If you or a loved one was diagnosed with mesothelioma​, connect with our registered nurses to find the best treatments for your case.

Speak With a Mesothelioma Nurse

• Find Top Doctors and Treatments
• Connect You With Clinical Trials
• Answer Medical Questions

Talk with Amy

Amy Fair
20+ Years Helping
Mesothelioma Patients

Mesothelioma Diagnosis By Type

Mesothelioma can develop in different parts of the body. Doctors classify cases into specific types at the time of a mesothelioma diagnosis based on where tumors form. Learn about the mesothelioma types and the process to diagnose each below.

Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Pleural mesothelioma is the most commonly diagnosed type of mesothelioma. It affects the lining of the lungs (pleura) and makes up 75-80% of cases.

To diagnose this cancer, doctors start by noting any possible symptoms, including chest pain, a cough, and difficulty breathing. They’ll then take imaging scans of the chest to look for possible signs of mesothelioma.

Doctors can then extract a biopsy sample from a possibly cancerous mass in the chest to confirm a malignant pleural mesothelioma diagnosis.

Diagnosis of Peritoneal Mesothelioma

Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen (peritoneum) and is the second-most commonly diagnosed type of this cancer. It accounts for 10-15% of diagnoses.

Many cases of peritoneal mesothelioma start with abdominal bloating, pain, and weight and appetite loss. Doctors look for these symptoms before conducting imaging scans and biopsies to determine if a patient has peritoneal mesothelioma.

Diagnosing Rare Mesothelioma Types

There are also two very rare types of mesothelioma — pericardial and testicular.

Pericardial mesothelioma forms in the lining of the heart (pericardium), leading to symptoms like arrhythmia and chest pain. Testicular mesothelioma starts in the testicle lining and causes pain and swelling.

Doctors can use imaging scans and biopsies to diagnose both of these rare cancers. Pericardial mesothelioma is harder to diagnose, and most cases are only confirmed during autopsies.

Is Diagnosing Mesothelioma Difficult?

Yes, diagnosing mesothelioma is difficult due to a variety of factors – all of which underscore the importance of seeing a doctor quickly if this illness is suspected.

Reasons mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose include:

• Lack of specialization: Patients could see a general doctor who doesn’t have experience with mesothelioma, leading to misdiagnosis.
• Long latency period: It often takes 10-50 years for symptoms to form after initial asbestos exposure. Patients may delay seeing a doctor since mesothelioma may not be at the front of their minds.
• Rarity: Mesothelioma only affects about 3,000 people per year, so symptoms are often dismissed at first.
• Shared symptoms: Common mesothelioma symptoms like shortness of breath, cough, and weight loss could be mistaken for more common and less serious issues.

As a result of these issues, nearly 23% of mesothelioma cases are misdiagnosed at first, and many diagnoses take months to confirm.

“From the onset of symptoms, the diagnosis is an average time of about nine months.”
— Dr. Taylor Ripley, mesothelioma specialist

If you’re worried about mesothelioma, connect with a specialist as soon as possible. The sooner you get an accurate diagnosis, the faster you can get treatment for this aggressive cancer.

Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis

Mesothelioma misdiagnoses can vary depending on the type of cancer and which symptoms a patient is experiencing. Learn about common mesothelioma misdiagnoses in the table below.

If you have been diagnosed with one of these conditions and your symptoms are continuing or worsening, you may need to get a second opinion. Contact our nurses now to get help finding a mesothelioma specialist near you.

What to Do After a Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you or a loved one has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, follow these steps to get the treatment and help you need.

1. Consider a Second Opinion

Getting a second opinion following a mesothelioma diagnosis is helpful for a number of reasons.

With a mesothelioma second opinion, you’ll:

• Have confidence in your diagnosis
• Potentially get access to more treatment options
• Rule out any chance of misdiagnosis

Ideally, see a mesothelioma specialist if you haven’t already to ensure your second opinion is as accurate as possible.

“Just because someone’s an oncologist (cancer doctor) doesn’t mean they see a lot of mesothelioma. You want to see someone that’s a real mesothelioma specialist.”

— Dr. Raja Flores, mesothelioma specialist

2. Understand Your Mesothelioma Prognosis

When you are certain you have an accurate diagnosis, make sure you understand your mesothelioma prognosis (health outlook).

The average mesothelioma patient lives 12-21 months after a diagnosis. However, factors like cancer type, stage, and overall health can affect which treatments you receive and may allow you to live longer.

3. Get an Effective Treatment Plan

Getting mesothelioma treatment is the best way to potentially live longer after a diagnosis.

Common treatments for mesothelioma include:

• Surgery
• Chemotherapy
• Immunotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Clinical trials testing new treatments

Your oncology team can tailor treatments to the specifics of your case, hopefully allowing you to improve your life expectancy.

4. Explore Compensation Options

Mesothelioma diagnostic tests and treatments can be expensive, costing $400,000 or more. You and your family may qualify for compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit to cover expenses.

“We filed a mesothelioma lawsuit because we knew it was more than we could handle on our own. We came to realize it’s not going to be a cheap fight.”

— Alan Bonnin, mesothelioma patient

A mesothelioma lawsuit awards $1 million to $1.4 million on average, with some paying out much more.

Contact our team to learn if you can pursue financial compensation after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Have You or a Loved One Been Diagnosed With Mesothelioma?

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it can bring a lot of anxiety. Cancer not only greatly affects your health, but can also lead to financial uncertainty due to treatment costs.

At Lung Cancer Group, we stand ready to help mesothelioma patients ensure their diagnosis is correct and access the medical care they deserve.

Work with our team to:

• Connect with doctors to get an accurate diagnosis
• Explore treatment options for mesothelioma
• Pursue financial compensation to cover expenses

Connect with a mesothelioma nurse right now or call (877) 446-5767 to get started.