Mesothelioma Diagnosis By Wesley Exon
Mesothelioma is the technical name for cancer of the mesothelium.
It can be difficult to diagnose because many of the symptoms are
similar to other conditions, like lung cancer.
The first visit you have with your doctor, he'll ask you about
exposure to asbestos. Older homes were made of asbestos.
Even though it's hard to detect in its early stages, a doctor
can perform a couple of tests. Chest x-ray, CT scan and MRI scan
will allow the doctor to do a good diagnose.
A CT scan is used to create detailed images. MRI scan uses
magnetism, radio waves, and a computer but does not utilize
radiation to create a clear image.
These tests aid the doctor in differentiating between
mesothelioma and other lung tumors. And they can also help in
determining where the tumor is.
If necessary, a doctor might have to draw fluid to confirm its
diagnosis. There are a couple of ways to do it.
First, a doctor can make a small incision to place a flexible
tube in the area of the tumor which is called a thoracoscopy.
Sometimes, however, a more extensive surgical procedure may be
advisable.
Second, a thoracotomy can be done to open the chest to take a
tissue sample and to remove most of the visible tumor. Also, a
mediastinoscopy may be done to determine what kind of cancer it
is.
Then, the tissue samples are looked at under a microscope to
determine whether the tumor is a mesothelioma or some other type
of cancer.
I decided to write about mesothelioma because my dad was exposed
to asbestos while working on a house. Now, he's breathing is
effected by it.
About the author:
Senior writer for
www.mesothelioma-cancerinfo.com
