Mesothelioma Diagnosis lawyers attorney referral service law firm lawsuit

How Mesothelioma is Diagnosed Diagnosing mesothelioma is often difficult, because the symptoms are similar to those of a number of other conditions. Mesothelioma diagnosis begins with a review of the patient's medical history, including any history of asbestos exposure. A complete physical examination may be performed, including x-rays of the chest or abdomen and lung function tests. CT (or CAT) scan or an MRI may also be useful. CT Scan used for a mesothelioma diagnosis is a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body created by a computer linked to an x-ray machine. MRI used for mesothelioma diagnosis is a powerful magnet linked to a computer that is used to make detailed pictures of areas inside the body. These pictures are viewed on a monitor and can also be printed. Your doctor will review your work history, especially whether you have worked in an industry in which you may have been exposed to asbestos. Diagnosing Mesothelioma If fluid is present in the pleura or peritoneum, a thin needle may be used to collect a small sample of the fluid for examination. This procedure, called fine-needle aspiration, also may be used to drain the fluid to relieve symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath that can result from an effusion. Occasionally, mesothelioma can be diagnosed with this fluid sample alone, but usually a tissue sample (biopsy) is required. The tissue sample can be obtained via thoracoscopy (for a pleural tumor) or via laparoscopy (for an abdominal tumor). In both procedures, a tubelike instrument inserted through a small incision allows the physician to view the tumor and collect a tissue sample. Patients suspected of having pleural mesothelioma also may need a procedure called bronchoscopy. Three Types of Mesothelioma : Pleural Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lung (pleura) Peritoneal Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum) Pericardial Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining surrounding the heart (pericardium). Sub-Types (or cell types) of Mesothelioma are: Epithelial (the most common, and considered the most amenable to treatment) Sarcomatous (a much more aggressive form) Biphasic or mixed (a combination of both of the other cell types). Expected Duration of Mesothelioma Once it develops, this type of cancer will continue to grow and spread until treatment is provided. Mesothelioma Prevention To reduce your risk of malignant mesothelioma, you should reduce your exposure to asbestos. Because there is no safe level of asbestos exposure, any asbestos exposure is too much. Especially if you have an older home, check for areas of exposed asbestos-containing insulation or other areas of deteriorating asbestos. These areas must be removed professionally or safely sealed off. Workers who routinely deal with asbestos-containing materials should use approved measures to limit their exposure and to keep from bringing asbestos dust home on their clothing. Mesothelioma Latency Period Mesothelioma cancer has an extremely long latency period. The term "latency" in a medical context refers to the period of time between the start of a disease and the point at which the symptoms make themselves apparent. Mesothelioma Prognosis Generally speaking, with cancer the outcome depends on how advanced your cancer is when it is diagnosed and the statistics are given for each stage. Generally, of all the people diagnosed with mesothelioma, about 4 out of 10 (40%) will be alive 1 year later. About 2 out of 10 people (20%) will be alive 2 years later. Only about 1 in 10 (10%) will be alive 3 years later and about 8 out of 100 (8%) will be alive 5 years later. Mesothelioma Life Expectansy The life expectancy of pacients with mesothelioma goes beetwen 4 and 18 months;the period of time may be influenced by the location of the cancer, the stage of the disease, and the patient's age and general health.