Mesotheilioma Symptoms & Diagnosis
Mesotheilioma is difficult to diagnose, and is resistant to treatment. Early diagnosis is important, but unfortunately is also rare.
One thing that’s important to remember is that mesotheilioma has a long latency period – typically between three and five decades. If you know you have a history of past asbestos exposure, regular check-ups and screening tests to check for early symptoms of asbestos-related disease is vital.
Mesotheilioma Symptoms
The following symptoms are fairly general, and may appear in any case of mesotheilioma:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Fever or night sweats
- Fatigue
Other symptoms of mesotheilioma are more specific to the type of cancer involved, and vary depending on the point of origin. Most of these symptoms develop when the membranes involved begin to thicken, and as fluid begins to build up between membrane layers. The membrane thickening and fluid build-up put pressure on nearby organs (such as the heart or lungs), causing them to function less effectively.
In pleural mesotheilioma, symptoms may include difficulty swallowing, dry cough, painful breathing, shortness of breath (initially on exertion; as the cancer advances this occurs even when resting), and severe pain in the chest area or near the ribs. Lumps may appear under the skin of the chest or rib area as the cancer advances.
In peritoneal mesotheilioma, symptoms may include anemia, abdominal pain or swelling, constipation or diarrhea, and nausea or vomiting. Lumps may appear under abdominal skin in later stages.
In pericardial mesotheilioma, symptoms may include irregular heartbeat, heart palpitations, chest pain, and difficulty breathing (on exertion or when at rest).
Diagnosis of Mesotheilioma
As with any other disease, diagnosis of mesotheilioma is completed in stages. The first things that will happen are a medical history and physical examination, to provide general information about symptoms and background, and past medical history. When a mesotheilioma is suspected, it’s important to ensure any information about possible past asbestos exposure is given, too.
The next step is undergoing diagnostic tests. These typically proceed in order from minor procedures such as blood tests, to more involved and lengthy tests such as x-rays, CT or MRI scans, and biopsies (which can include minor surgical procedures). These results of these types of tests are also used to stage the cancer, which means determining how far advanced the disease is, and whether cancer has metastasized (spread to other parts of the body).
Tests for Mesotheilioma Diagnosis
A wide range of tests may be used to diagnose mesotheilioma, including fluid and tissue biopsies, as well as medical imaging tests.
Imaging tests commonly used in the diagnostic process include:
- X-ray: The most commonly-used medical imaging test for mesotheilioma diagnosis. For most people, diagnosis will include at least one x-ray.
- CT scan: during a CT scan, multiple x-ray images are taken, and these are used to compile a more accurate and detailed image. Prior to the scan a dye may be injected intravenously – this helps produce higher-contrast images.
- PET scan: Prior to a PET scan, an injection of a radioactive glucose solution is administered. Malignant cells take up the glucose more quickly than do healthy cells. The scan is able to show up cells with more glucose inside them, and which therefore might be malignant.
- MRI scan: Radio waves and magnetic fields are used to create extremely detailed images. Many people find this procedure uncomfortable—it can take up to an hour, and the patient is confined in a small space—but it is not painful.
Several types of tissue or fluid sample tests may also be carried out during diagnosis. Typically these involve the removal of a small amount of blood, fluid, or tissue, and the samples are then tested in a laboratory.
- Fine needle aspiration: One very common symptom of mesotheilioma is the build-up of fluid in the area where the cancer develops. A fine needle aspiration is a procedure which uses a very long, hollow, very thin needle to withdraw a sample of the fluid that builds up between the membrane layers of the lungs, abdomen, or heart.
- Laparoscopy: Also known as “keyhole surgery,” this is a non-invasive surgical procedure used to take a tissue sample from a peritoneal mesotheilioma tumor. An instrument is inserted through a tiny incision in the abdomen to allow one or more samples of tissue to be taken.
- Thoracoscopy: If pleural or pericardial mesotheilioma is suspected, a similar procedure to a laparoscopy may be carried out. In this case the procedure is called a thoracoscopy, with the incision made in the chest wall.
- Mediastinoscopy: this procedure (also similar to the laparoscopy) is sometimes used to view lymph nodes in the head and neck. This information helps determine whether the cancer has spread.
