* Mesothelioma Imaging Scans

    Mesothelioma is a form of cancer that affects, in most cases, those with long-term exposure to asbestos fibers. This kind of cancer is typically hard to diagnose because themesothelioma symptoms displayed in the patient are similar to a number of other illnesses and conditions. For this reason, it is important to use advanced imaging technology to assist with proper diagnosis.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma with Imaging Scans

    Because the symptoms match those of many other diseases, mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose and locate. The tumors that are produced may show up in any part of the mesothelium and can even be found between organs. A cancer doctor is going to begin any patient examination with a thorough review of the patient's medical history. As the diagnosis process progresses, there may be several tools used simultaneously to get the most accurate results. Along with blood tests and others, a medical professional may use one or more of several body scans to detect any abnormalities.

Mesothelioma X-Rays

    The first and most basic imaging scan is an x-ray. This scan is limited, but may be able to detect certain areas that show damage or abnormalities in the body. One of the biggest drawbacks in the x-ray is it can only produce a flat, two-dimensional image. When an x-ray is taken, electromagnetic radiation is sent through the body with a photographic film on the other side. The way the waves, or rays, behavior changes as they pass through the body and different kinds of tissue, thus creating a representative image.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma: X-Rays

    The X-ray is a form of medical imaging that is typically used to diagnose injuries to bones. X-ray technology can also be used to diagnose problems in soft tissue, such as the lungs. A chest X-ray can be used to diagnose problems such as lung cancer, mesothelioma, and pneumonia. A chest X-ray is an excellent way to pinpoint problems of the respiratory tract as well.

 - X-rays as Diagnosis for Mesothelioma

   Chest X-rays are a common diagnostic tool for mesothelioma. A chest x-ray is able to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor as well as whether the tumor has spread outside of the pleural cavity. X-rays, CT scans, and blood tests are the main methods used to diagnose mesothelioma. The downside of all of these medical procedures is that they are not capable of helping the diagnosis of mesothelioma in the earliest stages of development.

 - X-ray as Treatment for Mesothelioma

    There are three main standards of care for patients with mesothelioma. Chemotherapy, which can be any one or a combination of a variety of medications that are injected into the patient's blood stream or given in oral form to kill the tumor cells. Surgery is the second option, and typically involves removing the tumor and part or all of the mesothelium as well.

    The other common method of treatment is radiation. Radiation therapy is a very strong dose of X-rays directed to the cancer cells. Radiation therapy, also known as X-ray therapy, is used to kill individual tumor cells. As the tumor cells die, the tumor itself becomes smaller. The high dose of X-rays can be administered in a number of ways. For example, radiation therapy can be administered with a machine that is directed to the tumor externally; or radioactive materials contained in plastic beads can be implanted at the tumor site.

    Physicians may use one, two or all three of these methods to treat mesothelioma. While using a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation increases the odds of successful treatment, not all patients can withstand the more aggressive treatment options. A physician must take into account the patient's general health, age, the location and size of the tumor, as well as whether the tumor has metastasized.

 - Potential Dangers of X-rays

    There are a variety of dangers associated with long term or high level exposure to X-rays. When the body is exposed to X-rays, radiation damage occurs on a cellular level. In general, the damaged cells will die or will have sustained changes to their genetic makeup, which may eventually lead to such cells becoming cancerous.

    It may seem strange to treat one type of cancer with a method that may cause another type, but radiation therapy has been used for many years and is proven to be effective at shrinking tumors. In the early days of radiation therapy, when manipulation of X-ray dosage was poorly understood, many people died from the therapy. Radiation therapy today is an effective and proven method of treating various forms of cancer. Doctors are able to fine-tune the dosage received, better able to monitor the patient's health, and use other therapies to reduce the side effects of radiation that caused secondary health concerns in the past.

- Side Effects of Radiation Therapy

    Radiation therapy, which consists of extremely high powered doses of X-rays directly to the affected area, has some advantages over chemotherapy, but some disadvantages as well. Because radiation therapy targets only the area where the tumor is located, you probably will not suffer from the full body illness and fatigue that is a common side effect of chemotherapy. A patient may report problems at the point where the radiation enters the body. This can include red, irritated skin, tightness or soreness.

    In addition, radiation in the chest area may make it difficult to swallow and may cause a cough or shortness of breath within a few months after completing treatments. Most of these side effects are temporary, and should resolve themselves within a few months from the end of treatment. If radiation side effects are severe, making it difficult to breath or painful to cough, patients should talk to their doctor. Doctors can prescribe medications such as steroids to reduce the severity of side effects.

Mesothelioma CT Scans

    Computed tomography scans, referred to as either CT Scan or "CAT scan," still utilizes x-rays to capture images from inside the body. The x-ray machine and the film travel around the body on one axis and take a large number of images. The images can then be collated and combined to give doctors an excellent idea of what different tissues are found in the area(s) of concern. The data can even be manipulated to show different slices of the tissue and can be rendered into three-dimensional representations. Though an incredibly valuable tool for the medical industry, a CAT scan is still only able to present its data in various shades of light and dark.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma: CT Scans

    During the mesothelioma diagnostic process, patients will undergo a variety of medical imaging procedures. One such imaging exam is a CT scan, which provides highly detailed information about the type of disease that is involved and how far it has advanced.

    Along with the results of other tests, such as PET scan, MRI scan, and x-ray, the results of a CT scan are used by cancer doctors to diagnose and stage the cancer. This information is used to determine the best and most appropriate course of cancer treatment, and to provide a prognosis, which is a general idea of how doctors expect the disease to progress. CT scans and other tests may be carried out after diagnosis. In these cases the tests are used to determine how effective your current treatment is.

 - The CT Scan Procedure

    A CT scan is almost like an x-ray, in that a series of several separate x-ray images are taken during the procedure. However, the major difference is that a CT scan takes a large number of images, rather than just one or two. Using a CT scan to take many different images allows technicians and doctors to construct a three-dimensional image of the inside of the body.

    If you undergo a CT scan you may be given an intravenous injection of dye that helps produce a more detailed picture by increasing the contrast of the images that are taken. The injection might be slightly uncomfortable, but unless you have an unexpected allergic reaction to the dye that is used, there is no danger.

    In some cases you may receive a CT scan at the same time as another procedure called a PET scan. Carrying out both tests at the same time allows specialists to get additional information about the location of mesothelioma and whether it has spread to other locations.

 - Test Results

    In most cases, test results for a CT scan will be available within a few days. The scan images are interpreted by a doctor who is specialized in reading the detailed images produced by CT equipment. After the results have been read, your doctor will receive a summary of the findings and will review the results with you and what they mean.

Mesothelioma MRI Scans

    Magnetic resonance imaging scans use electromagnetic radiation to develop images of the body. Hydrogen atoms in the body respond to the magnetic signals by putting out a very weak radiowave, which a computer can analyze. With a few exceptions, MRI scans are not harmful to the human body, while excessive exposure to x-rays can be. These scans offer all that a CAT scan does and more. The biggest bonus to MRI scans is the ability of the computer to differentiate between tissues in the body and assign them various colors. This lets doctors get a very clear picture of the interior of the body, which can help locate tumors much earlier than the other two kinds of scans. The earlier mesothelioma is discovered and operated on, the better odds a patient has for survival.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma: MRIs

    Mesothelioma is not always an easy disease to diagnosis, especially if the patient is unclear about his or her past exposure to asbestos. The symptoms of mesothelioma can be very similar to those of other diseases that affect the lungs and respiratory system and can easily be confused with those diseases or disorders. A definitive link to asbestos, however, is usually the factor that helps doctors make the diagnosis along with a variety of testing.

An x-ray is almost always the first step towards making the diagnosis, but an x-ray - the least sophisticated form of diagnostic imaging available - is often not precise enough to make a definitive determination. A sure-fire diagnosis usually involves at least one other form of diagnostic imaging, including Magnetic Resonance Imaging, more simply known as the MRI.

What Is an MRI?

    Magnetic Resonance Imaging, originally known as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging, is a medical imaging technique that provides very detailed images of any part of the body. More sophisticated than the CT scan, the use of MRIs began in the mid 1970s and the scans are still an important diagnostic tool today, especially in the diagnosis of cancer.

    By use of a powerful magnetic field, the MRI clearly shows the contrast of different soft tissues in the body. By changing exam parameters, the MRI can cause these tissues to take on different appearances. When this occurs, the radiologist who is observing the MRI can simply tell whether something inside the body is abnormal by the way it appears on the screen.

    Unlike other diagnostic procedures, the MRI does not rely on radiation, making it an even safer procedure than most. Instead, when the body is inside the machine, radio waves redirect the axes of spinning protons, which are the nuclei of hydrogen atoms, in a strong magnetic field. This field is produced by allowing an electrical current to pass through wire coils inside the machine. Other coils that encircle the body send and receive radio waves, producing signals that are received by a computer. The signals generate images that each show a thin "slice" of the body. These images are then interpreted by a radiologist experienced in reading MRI results.

What to Expect

    While the idea of having an MRI may make an individual nervous, mainly because they are frightened about what the doctor will find, there is nothing scary or painful about the MRI itself. This totally painless procedure is simple and is usually accomplished within just an hour or two at a hospital or some other sort of imaging center. Knowing what to expect helps the whole process go more smoothly and greatly reduces any fear.

    Little needs to be done to prepare for an MRI. Some eating and drinking guidelines may apply before the test but, usually, patients may eat and drink as usual and may take their daily medications. In some cases, you may be asked to swallow a contrast dye, known as gandolinium. Fortunately, this dye does not contain iodine, which can cause an allergic reaction. Some health issues preclude the use of a contrast dye, so always be sure your doctor knows if you have kidney disease or other serious disorders.

    When you arrive, you'll most likely need to fill out some paperwork and be asked to identify anything in your body that that may contain metal, like cochlear implants or screws or pins placed during surgery for broken limbs, etc. You'll be asked to remove jewelry and other metal items.

    Once all paperwork is reviewed and appropriate items are removed, you'll be ready to begin. In the scanning room, patients are asked to lie on a large table. The technician will see that you're comfortable before the procedure begins. Once you are ready to begin, the technician will slide the table into the machine and leave the room.

    At that point, the test starts. Usually, it is broken up into several different sequences, and the technician, who can still communicate with you, will tell you how long each will last - generally no longer than about 2 or 3 minutes. During that time, patients will hear banging noises, which is a normal part of the procedure and does not indicate any troubles. The entire test can range from 15 minutes to a few hours. When all is complete, the table will slide back out.

    Some people get claustrophobic while undergoing an MRI, especially if it's a long procedure. This can be solved in a few different ways. First of all, your doctor can prescribe a mild sedative if you let him/her know in advance that you have an issue with claustrophobia. Secondly, some facilities offer open MRI machines that reduce that closed-in feeling. Some MRI machines have music piped in to help patients relax. Also, the technician may offer ear plugs to reduce noise.

After the MRI

    Individuals undergoing an MRI should feel normal after the procedure though if contrast dye is used, it may cause temporary flushing or other minor reactions until it leaves the body.

    Patients do not receive immediate results from an MRI. Technicians are not qualified or permitted to interpret images and cannot and should not offer any comments to the patient. The images will be viewed by a licensed radiologist and that individual will send results to the patient's doctor, who will then call to set up an appointment to review them.

    If the MRI does show that mesothelioma is present, your doctor will refer you to an oncologist - a cancer doctor - who will instruct you on your options for treatment.

Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

    There are many benefits to undergoing MRI in the diagnosis of mesothelioma and other diseases. First of all, it does not expose patients to radiation as do other diagnostic procedures and the contrast dye used in MRIs is much safer than that used for CT scans. Furthermore, it is the most likely of all imaging tests to identify abnormalities and focal lesions on soft-tissue structures of the body, including the heart, liver, and other organs.

    Risks are relatively few and are rarely reported. The only real risk, which is slight, could be an adverse reaction to the contrast dye that is sometimes used during the MRI procedure.

Mesothelioma PET Scans

    One of the best and most widely used scans for detecting and diagnosing mesothelioma and other kinds of cancer is the positron emission tomography scan, known as a PET scan. These scans use tracers and cameras to develop a detailed image of the body and even detect changes in biological processes, allowing doctors to find even the smallest tumor.PET scans involve an injection of a radioactive tracer isotope, combined with some form of glucose, into the blood stream of the patient. After a short waiting period, the scanners are able to detect gamma radiation produced by the tissues in the body that are interacting with the tracer isotope. The scans can produce very accurate representations of the body and can even display what is happening chemically in the tissues.

    The most powerful scanning technique combines at least two of the above. Many scanning machines are coming to medical facilities with PET scanners and CAT scanners in the same casing, and some are combined with MRI. The advantage to this is that biochemical processes, which show up in a PET scan, can be compared to what the anatomy that appears in the CAT scan. Both scans can happen almost simultaneously, so the body does not have to be moved during the scan. This ensures that the images are accurate and align with each other. The advantage to this is that biochemical processes, which show up in a PET scan, can be compared to what the anatomy shows in the CAT scan.

Diagnosing Mesothelioma: PET Scans

    Medical imaging scans such as MRI, CT, and PET scans are used for mesothelioma diagnosis and the diagnosis of other asbestos cancers. These scans help determine where the cancer is located in the body and whether it has spread to other locations. Such tests are also used to determine how effectiveness of a particular course of treatment.

    PET scans make use of the metabolic processes of cells to create highly detailed images of the inside of the body. Prior to a PET scan, the individual undergoing the test is injected intravenously with a solution of radioactive glucose. During the test, their body is scanned using equipment that can detect the presence of the radioactive glucose.

    This process works off the principle that malignant cancer cells absorb and use glucose more quickly than normal healthy cells. Once the scan images have been generated, areas of tissue that have taken up large amounts of glucose can be easily distinguished from other areas of tissue.

    PET scans are particularly useful diagnostic and prognostic tools because they show the location of cancer cells within the body in three dimensions, with more accuracy and finer detail than other tests.

CT-PET Scans

    A PET scan is sometimes carried out at the same time as a CT scan, which provides more detailed and useful results. This is particularly useful during diagnosis for mesothelioma, as the combination of a CT and PET scan gives fast, detailed results that accurately reflect the stage of the cancer. This useful information helps doctors determine best treatment for each individual.

    Knowing the exact location, size, and spread of tumors is vital information for cancer doctors.During treatment, the CT-PET combination provides quick and highly accurate results that specialists need to ensure patients receive the best treatment at every stage of their disease. For example, when a combination CT-PET scan is used following chemotherapy, it can give a detailed picture of how the cancer is responding to the treatment, much earlier and more accurately than other types of medical imaging tests.

Test Results

    Test results for these scans are usually available within a few days. The scans are analyzed by doctors who are trained to interpret the images and the results are then reported to the patient's doctor, who then reviews and explains the results with the patient.

Source : http://www.asbestos.com