* Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Doctors typically formulate a mesothelioma diagnosis within three to six months of a patient’s first consultation. Often, patients will first visit their general physician to discuss breathing problems and chest or abdominal pain. The primary doctor will typically take the first steps of the diagnostic process, after which a patient may see a pulmonologist for further testing. If a cancer specialist’s advice is necessary to arrive at a diagnosis, the patient may be referred to an oncologist.

Preliminary Considerations for Diagnosis

Before indicating mesothelioma as a cause of a patient’s symptoms, a doctor will contemplate several factors:

Medical History – In addition to asking about past and present health problems (especially respiratory issues), a physician will need to know about any family history with cancer and whether or not the patient currently or previously smoked.
A Physical Examination– During an exam, a doctor will check for signs of a pleural effusion or pleural mass, reduced chest expansion capabilities, quieted or absent breathing sounds, mediastinal displacement, localized tenderness and any protruding tumors.
Prior Asbestos Exposure– As a Grade A carcinogen, asbestos is known to be a harmful substance to humans. Asbestos exposure, especially at the workplace, is the primary cause for the development of mesothelioma.

Resources for Diagnosed Patients

After receiving mesothelioma diagnosis, a patient will want to discuss their illness with an oncologist. The Mesothelioma Center’s free Doctor Match program can connect patients with the best local medical professionals that can offer their expert opinion. Doctors with experience in asbestos-related diseases can construct a thorough therapy plan or direct patients to applicable clinical trials.

While a physician will be able to discuss the patient’s pathology report and outline treatment options, the patient can also independently discover information about their disease. A free packet explaining medical facts is available through the Mesothelioma Center. By absorbing as much mesothelioma-related knowledge as possible, a patient will be able to become more involved with their course of treatment.

Once a patient has chosen a plan to address their cancer, they may consider preparing for medical expenses as well as potential travel and housing costs. Insurance may cover certain treatments and a number of resources are available to patients.

The Mesothelioma Center offers a range of patient resources to support and empower patients at any step of the diagnostic or treatment process. In addition the complimentary information packet, patients can request free awareness wristbands, a newsletter, mesothelioma literature and assistance with Social Security or VA claims.

Imaging Tests to Screen for Mesothelioma

In the case that the pulmonologist or oncologist suspects an asbestos-related disease, they may order imaging scans to further determine what is present.

Chest X-ray – The most common imaging test for diagnosing mesothelioma is an X-ray. Nearly every diagnosis will involve the use of an X-ray, but it is most likely that the doctor will order additional tests to determine the exact nature of the cancer.
CT Scan – Utilizing the composite of multiple X-ray pictures, this scan produces a detailed image of the body’s tissues. Doctors are able to obtain a detailed image of the body in order to make a more accurate diagnosis. CT scans are also used to determine whether the cancer is benign or malignant.
PET Scan – This scan is a favored by doctors because of its ability to easily distinguish malignant cancer cells from normal cells. A glucose solution is injected into the body that can be easily distinguished by the scans because malignant cells use sugar at a faster rate than normal cells.
MRI Scan – Radiological scans such as an MRI utilize radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create three-dimensional images for doctors. In particular, radiological tests can help determine the degree of pleural thickening, pleural masses, pleural plaques and pulmonary emphysema.

Fluid and Tissue Tests

These tests, also known as biopsy tests, are one of the most effective ways to diagnose mesothelioma. Biopsies include the collection of small fluid and tissue samples to determine if cancer cells are present. Fluid biopsies are considered to be 80 percent conclusive.

Fine Needle Aspiration – A common trait of mesothelioma cancers is the buildup of fluid in the mesothelial linings, such as the pleural membrane. During this procedure, doctors utilize a long, thin needle to extract a fluid sample from the affected area.
Thoracoscopy – In this test, surgeons will use a long, thin tube to examine the chest through a very small incision in order to obtain a small tissue sample.
Bronchoscopy and Laparoscopy - Doctors use this type of diagnostic testing to examine the airway and to obtain tissues specimens from inside the lungs. Laparoscopy is used in peritoneal mesothelioma cases.
Mediastinoscopy – This procedure is used to determine if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in your neck and chest.

Mesothelioma Blood Tests

With the discovery of specific mesothelioma biomarkers, doctors can detect the disease in earlier stages. However, elevated levels of certain biomarkers do not necessarily mean cancer is present.

Mesomark – The Mesomark assay measures the amount of Soluble Mesothelin-Related Proteins (SMRP) in human serum. The test binds antibodies to SMRP and doctors measure the amount to help determine the presence of mesothelioma.
miRview – The miRview Meso test is an effective tool that helps provide an accurate diagnosis for mesothelioma patients. The test measures tissue-specific microRNA biomarkers from the tumor to help identify mesothelioma from other cancers.

Mesothelioma ICD-9 Code

Medical documents may refer to a disease by a specific ICD-9 code, which is an international classification system to quickly and universally indicate a diagnosis. As a malignant tumor of the pleura, pleural mesothelioma falls under ICD-9 code 163. ICD-9 code 158 indicates a malignant tumor of the peritoneum such as peritoneal mesothelioma.

A malignant tumor of the thymus, heart or mediastinum such as pericardial mesothelioma is assigned the ICD-9 code 164. Although this terminology is seldom used outside of medical documentation, some doctors do refer to ICD-9 coding while explaining technical reports or official diagnoses to patients.

Source : http://www.asbestos.com