DIAGNOSING MESOTHELIOMA

Making a Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Obtaining a definitive diagnosis of Mesothelioma is not always a simple process – one of the primary reasons being that some of the symptoms that manifest in patients with Mesothelioma may also be applicable to other diseases and illnesses.

With this particular issue in mind, if a doctor or health-care official suspects that their patient may have Mesothelioma, a specific series of tests is generally undertaken – (a) to rule out the possibility of other medical conditions, and (b) if Mesothelioma is indeed diagnosed, to ascertain the degree to which the disease is present within the patient’s body.

One of the most important aspects of securing a Mesothelioma diagnosis is the careful and detailed study of both the medical history and the work history of the patient. One of the chief reasons for undertaking this task is to determine if at any time in his or her career the patient was exposed to Asbestos dust – which is the primary cause of Mesothelioma.

Then, a variety of physical examinations, tests and procedures may be undertaken, including (a) a comprehensive chest x-ray; (b) lung-function tests; (c) an MRI; and (d) a CT (or CAT)-Scan. Several other procedures may also be employed too - all of which are detailed below.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

First used on a human subject in July 1977, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – or, as it is also known, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (NMRI) - can chiefly be described as a technique utilized within the field of radiology to allow medical experts to view and interpret the structure and function of the human body, bodily organs and tissue.

One of the main benefits of utilizing the MRI technique as a means of diagnosing Mesothelioma is that it offers a far more significant contrast between the various soft-tissues present within the body than does a CT-Scan.

As a result, an MRI is particularly useful – and indeed, highly successful – in providing crucial imagery that is relevant to conditions of a specifically cardio-vascular, musculoskeletal, neurological, and cancerous type.

The process by which MRI achieves it results is as follows: a strong magnetic-field is utilized to align those hydrogen atoms which can be found in water in the patient’s body. Fields of a radio-frequency nature are then used to change the alignment, which the MRI scanner is able to detect and interpret.

Then, by using magnetic-fields to manipulate the signal, it becomes possible to create a detailed image of the body – or the particular part of the body under scrutiny – which can be scanned and examined to a significant degree for any evidence of abnormality. Indeed, since the protons in the affected tissue – in the form of tumors – revert to their state of equilibrium at contrasting times and rates, any alteration in the scanner’s parameters will result in a contrast between healthy tissue and diseased tissue than can be carefully studied and interpreted.

Although an MRI procedure is generally a very safe one, all patients – or potential patients – should be aware of the fact that if they have been fitted with cardiac-pacemakers, cochlear-implants, and various other types of implant, the strong magnetic fields that are present during an MRI may have an adverse affect on the implant that, in some cases, may be life-threatening.

The patient’s doctor will be able to determine if the presence of such implants precludes the patient from having an MRI.

CT (CAT)-Scan

An abbreviation of Computed-Tomography, a CT-Scan is the procedure of securing imagery of the human-body in sections – which is defined as Tomography, hence the name.

In this particular process, 3-D imagery of the patient’s body, internal organs and tissue may be generated from a combination of a large number of two-dimensional images secured via X-Rays taken from multiple angles. CT–Scans generally result in the acquisition of a large body of information that – via a process called “Windowing” – can be both manipulated and analyzed.

CT-Scans are particularly useful and successful in locating alterations of both a chronic and acute nature in the internal structure of the lungs – which regular X-Rays are unable to fully achieve.

For serious, lung-related conditions (including Mesothelioma), a process called High Resolution CT – or HRCT – is employed as part of the effort to secure as detailed and accurate a picture as is conceivably possible.

Pulmonary Function Test:

Generally, where Mesothelioma is strongly suspected, a Pulmonary Function Test will be undertaken as part of the effort to confirm the diagnosis. A PFT specifically measures the current function of the patient’s lungs, and does so by accurately measuring the flow and capacity of air that the patient is capable of both inhaling and exhaling.

Laparoscopy:

Laparoscopic Surgery is defined as Keyhole-Surgery in which tiny incisions are made in the abdomen to allow a search to be undertaken for any evidence of cancerous tumors, blockages and masses.

Bronchoscopy:

A Bronchoscopy involves the insertion into the patient’s airways of a device known as a bronchoscope, which is designed to seek out any evidence of cancerous tumors, blockages and masses.

Thoracoscopy:

A Thoracoscopy is a particular medical procedure that is focused upon the study and examination of the patient’s Pleural Cavity.