If you have symptoms that suggest mesothelioma, your doctor will perform a physical exam and order imaging scans to check for abnormalities. If necessary, further testing may be done to determine the cause of your symptoms. A biopsy, which involves the removal of a small tissue sample for laboratory examination, is the only way to diagnose mesothelioma. The tissue sample is analyzed to determine the type of mesothelioma and guide treatment. There are various biopsy procedures that may be used, such as needle insertion or tissue collection during surgery. Once mesothelioma is confirmed, your doctor may recommend additional tests to determine the extent of the cancer, such as CT scans, MRI, or PET. The results of these tests are used to assign a stage to pleural mesothelioma (I to IV, with lower numbers indicating more localized cancer and higher numbers indicating cancer that has spread to other areas of the body). Formal stages are not available for other types of mesothelioma. The sta...
Learn more about mesothelioma disease. All about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment of mesothelioma.