Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis
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How to Diagnose Pleural Mesothelioma
Your doctor will first ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. You may be referred to a doctor who specializes in lung problems or cancer. A pulmonologist focuses on the lungs. An oncologist focuses on cancer.
Sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between this and other, more common types of Lung Cancer. The following tests may be used to help diagnose which disease is present:
Blood tests-including a complete blood count (CBC) and sedimentation rate (checks for the degree of inflammation within the body, which is often increased in the presence of cancer and other inflammatory conditions)
Chest X-ray -may show increased thickness of the pleural lining and/or excess fluid around the lungs
CT scan (CAT scan) -a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of structures inside the body; will show more detailed images of changes in the pleural lining
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) -a procedure that uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make pictures of structures inside the body; use is similar to a CT scan
Biopsy -the removal of tissue from the pleura for evaluation under a microscope by a pathologist
These same tests and others may also be used to find out if cancer has spread outside the pleura. It is important to know whether and how far the cancer has spread to plan treatment. This step is called the staging process.
