Diagnosing Malignant Mesothelioma Cancer
Testing Options for Detecting Mesothelioma Tumors in Early Stages
Nov 1, 2009
Many mesothelioma victims are told, upon diagnosis, that survival rates are under a year. However, for mesothelioma patients who both catch the disease in its early stages and receive superior treatment, it is possible to extend survival rates beyond five years.
The key is diagnosing malignant mesothelioma early on, something which has been difficult given both the rarity of mesothelioma as well as the abundant symptoms it shares with a host of other diseases. However, with the development of new detection methods coupled with proper use of traditional diagnostic methods, detecting malignant mesothelioma early on is becoming easier for medical professionals.
Pleural Fluid Cytology for Diagnosing Mesothelioma Cancer
For mesothelioma victims who have developed the disease due to asbestos exposure, one of the common areas for malignancy to occur is in the pleural fluid—the fluid cavity surrounding the lungs. In such cases, a standard test for detecting malignant mesothelioma is one called pleural fluid cytology. This test analyzes cells in the pleural fluid and looks to identify malignant cancer cells.
While the test is effective in detecting malignancy, a problem for mesothelioma victims is that it is not particularly sensitive in identifying malignant mesothelioma. It is for this reason that pleural fluid cytology often cannot be used alone to diagnose malignant mesothelioma. However, a new methodology being developed for detecting malignant mesothelioma—detailed in the next section—is much more sensitive than pleural fluid cytology.
New Diagnostic Method for Malignant Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma cancer cells can show malignancy by expressing an over-abundance of the protein mesothelin. Since this particular protein is also expressed by other cancers, it has been difficult to diagnose mesothelioma based solely upon detection of this protein. However, a new, highly sensitive test developed by researchers at the Oxford Centre for Respiratory Medicine has shown that mesothelin levels in mesothelioma patients are often much higher than in those with other cancers.
The new test, which analyzes mesothelin levels in pleural effusions, was the subject of a study lead by Dr. Helen Davies and published an August, 2009 volume of the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Ask your doctor or oncologist about its availability.
Traditional Diagnostic Methods for Detecting Mesothelioma Cancer
There are a number of surgical procedures which can be used to both properly diagnose malignant mesothelioma and identify its stage of development. Among these are:
- Thoracoscopy – this method allows a doctor to probe the pleural cavity and conduct multiple biopsies. While a mildly invasive procedure, it has a very high rate of successfully diagnosing malignant mesothelioma.
- VATS (video-assisted thoracic surgery) – this method is more invasive than a thoracoscopy, a concern in that there is a possibility of rupturing a tumor. However, its benefit is that it allows a physician to utilize miniature cameras to visually inspect small incisions made in the pleural cavity while also obtaining biopsies.
These methods, along with the diagnostic tests detailed in the previous sections, can all be used to detect mesothelioma cancer in its early stages, which is critical to increase a mesothelioma victim's survival rates. By diagnosing mesothelioma early, patients can receive increased benefit from both traditional treatment options and experimental treatment options (including immunotherapy and gene therapy).
For more on the information contained in this article, see Mesothelioma Web.
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