Mesothelioma Imaging Scans

Imaging scans are an important tool in helping clinicians diagnose and manage mesothelioma. These scans include:

• X-rays
• CT scans
• MRIs
• PET scans

These tools help doctors to actually see tumors and other abnormal growths inside a patient’s body.

When patients experience symptoms associated with mesothelioma, doctors often order a scan as one part of their work-up. The results of the scan can help doctors figure out what is causing the symptoms. A scan by itself cannot diagnose mesothelioma, but it is an important tool towards arriving at the correct diagnosis.

X-rays for Mesothelioma

X-ray is the oldest and most basic type of imaging. X-ray’s produce a flat, two-dimensional image so its capacity as a helpful diagnostic tool is limited. Nevertheless, some physicians use it as a start. If an abnormality is seen, such as a mesothelioma tumor, more accurate and sophisticated scans can then be ordered like those described below.

X-rays work be emitting electromagnetic radiation. The radiation is focused on a particular body part and a photographic film is placed on the opposite side. The rays pass through less dense tissue more easily and create an image that is dependent on what the rays encountered while traveling through the body. For example, standard X-rays portray healthy lungs as black. However, when a tumor is present on or near the lungs (such as on the pleural lining), doctors may see an opaque white area.

CT Scans for Mesothelioma

We have all heard of CT or CAT scans. These are actually computed tomography scans which is a type of X-ray. In fact, CT scans are just a more sophisticated use of X-ray technology. CT’s take many X-rays from different planes or cross-sections. Because there are so many “slices” taken at about the same time, these images can be reconstructed by a computer to create a three dimensional representation of what is inside the body. As a result, CT’s are a very useful tool when doctors are trying to see if there are any masses or tumors present such as mesothelioma, and the location and size of any abnormal growths.

Contrast Material

Often, contrast material is used to help make a CT scan as accurate as possible. Contrast materials may also be called contrast agents or contrast media and are used to improve pictures of the inside of the body. Contrast materials are basically dyes that temporarily discolor internal organs and change the way x-rays or other imaging tools interact with the body.

By improving the visibility of specific organs or tissues, contrast materials help physicians diagnose mesothelioma and other medical conditions. Contrast materials enter the body by being swallowed, injected into a blood vessel, or administered by enema. There are several types of contrast materials including iodine-based and barium-sulfate compounds. When these contrast materials are present in a specific area of the body, they block or limit the ability of x-rays to pass through. As a result, blood vessels, organs and other tissue that contain the dyes change their appearance on x-ray or CT images.

Many doctors believe that CT’s are the best imaging technology for scans of the chest and abdomen, the most common location of mesothelioma tumors. In addition to finding potential tumors, CT scans can also help doctors perform staging by determining if cancer has spread to lymph nodes, nearby tissues, or distant organs.

MRI Scans for Mesothelioma

Unlike X-rays and CT’s, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans use a completely different type of radiation to develop images of the inside of the body to see mesothelioma and other cancers.

MRI’s work on an atomic scale by temporarily realigning the protons in the water molecules in your body. An MRI applies a very strong magnetic field (about a thousand times the strength of a typical refrigerator magnet), to change the spin of protons. The scanner also produces a radio frequency that creates a varying magnetic field. The protons absorb the energy from the field. When the field is turned off, the protons gradually return to their normal spin. The return process produces a signal that can be made into an image.

What’s amazing is that the protons in different body tissues return to their normal spins at different rates, so the scanner can distinguish among tissues including tumors. In fact, the computer can differentiate between tissues in the body and assign them various colors. Doctors get a clear image of the interior of the body, which can help locate mesothelioma earlier than with X-rays and CT scans.

PET Scan

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is another technology that allows your doctor to check for diseases in your body like mesothelioma. The scan uses a special kind of dye that has radioactive tracers. Your organs and tissues absorb the tracer and when highlighted under a PET scanner, the tracers help your doctor see how well your organs and tissues are working. The PET scan can measure blood flow, oxygen use, glucose metabolism (how your body uses sugar), and much more. Because cancer cells often have a higher metabolism than normal cells, a PET scan can be useful in detecting mesothelioma and other tumors.

Unlike other imaging tests, such as CT or MRI, PET scans show problems at the cellular level. This allows your doctor to see how the cancer metabolizes, and whether it has spread, or metastasized, to new areas. PET scans can also show how a tumor is responding to chemotherapy.

Before the scan, the tracers may be delivered intravenously or through a solution you can drink. Your body needs time to absorb the tracers, so you will usually wait about an hour before the scan begins.

These are some of the amazing technologies that clinicians have to help diagnose mesothelioma and other cancers and diseases.

  Diagnosis

Related Posts

Mesothelioma Biopsies: Ultrasound Guidance Beats CT - A new study concludes that ultrasound guided mesothelioma biopsies are safer and just as effective as CT guided biopsies.  Italian researchers analyzed both types of guidance systems for collecting tissue samples from mesothelioma patients. They compared the diagnostic yield and safety of each method.  It turns out that ionizing radiation is not necessary for successful mesothelioma biopsies. As long as the technician is experienced, ultrasound guidance may be the better choice.  The Importance of Mesothelioma Biopsies Pleural mesothelioma is a rare but highly aggressive kind of cancer. It grows on the membrane that surrounds the lungs. By the time patients experience symptoms of mesothelioma, the disease is often very advanced.  Malignant mesothelioma can be tricky to diagnose. Mesothelioma biopsies are … Continue reading Mesothelioma Biopsies: Ultrasound Guidance Beats CT »

CT Scans Fail To Identify Metastatic Mesothelioma Prior to Surgery - CT scans are not a reliable way to detect the spread of mesothelioma into certain lymph nodes between the ribs. This is important because people with mesothelioma cells in their posterior intercostal lymph nodes (PILN) do not tend to get good results from P/D surgery. Surgeons need a good way to find mesothelioma cells in these lymph nodes before they decide to perform this risky operation. But University of Pennsylvania researchers say CT scans are not the best method.  CT Scans in Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Prognosis CT stands for computerized tomography. A CT machine uses a series of X-ray images from different angles to create a 3D picture of a mesothelioma tumor. Most hospitals have a CT scanner. They are … Continue reading CT Scans Fail To Identify Metastatic Mesothelioma Prior to Surgery »

Mesothelioma Staging: Laparoscopy May Find Tumors PET-CT Misses - Cancer researchers at Baylor College of Medicine say diagnostic laparoscopy (DL) improves the accuracy of pleural mesothelioma staging prior to surgery. It is especially valuable for patients with cancer in both the chest and abdomen. Staging is a way for doctors to determine how widespread cancer is. Accurate staging is critical for the best surgical outcomes. For the right patients, mesothelioma surgery can be a life saver.  Many mesothelioma patients undergo PET/CT as part of the staging process. But the Baylor study suggests that adding a tool called a laparoscope to the process may find tumors that PET-CT misses. What is Mesothelioma Staging? Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that grows on internal membranes. It usually occurs on the … Continue reading Mesothelioma Staging: Laparoscopy May Find Tumors PET-CT Misses »

Predicting Mesothelioma Outcomes with FDG-PET: A New Model - Swiss doctors have created a new tool for predicting mesothelioma outcomes with FDG-PET scans.  FDG-PET scanning is a nuclear imaging technique. It gives doctors a non-invasive way to track the growth of pleural mesothelioma tumors.  The Swiss team analyzed multiple PET scans and CT scans from mesothelioma patients. They used a computer to look for commonalities in the scans. Then they used the information to create a computer model for predicting mesothelioma outcomes with FDG-PET. The model may help doctors and patients make better decisions about mesothelioma treatment in the future.  Imaging Studies for Mesothelioma Prognosis Pleural mesothelioma tumors occur on the pleural lining around the lungs. In the early stages, mesothelioma causes few symptoms. As mesothelioma tumors grow, they … Continue reading Predicting Mesothelioma Outcomes with FDG-PET: A New Model »

Diagnostic CT Scan for Mesothelioma: More is Better - A new report out of the UK suggests that a thorough diagnostic CT scan for pleural mesothelioma should include images of the abdomen and pelvis, as well as the chest.  When a person goes to the doctor with early signs of malignant pleural mesothelioma, a CT scan of the chest is often the next step in making a diagnosis. CT scans create a 3-dimensional image of internal organs, making it easier to spot mesothelioma tumors.  But a research team led by the University of Bristol says a diagnostic CT scan that shows only the chest might miss mesothelioma tumors in other areas. How a Diagnostic CT Scan Works CT stands for computerized tomography. CT scanning is an advanced type of … Continue reading Diagnostic CT Scan for Mesothelioma: More is Better »

Predicting Unresectable Mesothelioma Prior to Surgery - Cancer researchers at Baylor have found an effective way to identify certain cases of unresectable mesothelioma without making an incision. They focused on a common reason a surgeon might decide not to operate, even after the patient is on the table. The condition, called DCWI, is hard to identify without opening the patient up.  But the Baylor team says there is a non-invasive way to identify DCWI and predict cases of unresectable mesothelioma. If it works, it could save patients the pain of surgery. It could also save lives by allowing doctors to start other mesothelioma treatments sooner.  Diffuse Chest Wall Invasion in Mesothelioma Diffuse chest wall invasion (DCWI) is a condition that can make it impossible to perform effective … Continue reading Predicting Unresectable Mesothelioma Prior to Surgery »

The Importance of Subtype in PET Scanning for Mesothelioma Prognosis - A new study of PET scanning for mesothelioma prognosis shows how much radioactive tracer a tumor absorbs can predict survival. This is especially true in people with the epithelioid mesothelioma subtype.  The study comes from the Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. Researchers studied the medical records of dozens of mesothelioma patients diagnosed between 2009 and 2018. They found that SUVmax, a key factor in PET scanning for mesothelioma, is directly related to mesothelioma survival.  How PET Scanning Works Mesothelioma diagnosis is challenging. Pleural mesothelioma grows quickly on the membrane around the lungs. It is one of the rarest and deadliest cancers. Positron emission tomography (PET) combined with computed tomography (CT) can help with diagnosis.  During a … Continue reading The Importance of Subtype in PET Scanning for Mesothelioma Prognosis »

PET/CT for Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Age and Stage May Impact Accuracy - A new study of PET/CT for mesothelioma diagnosis shows that certain conditions can impact its accuracy. Test results may be less reliable in older patients and in those with very early stage mesothelioma.  The study comes from cancer researchers in Italy. They compared the accuracy of PET/CT for mesothelioma diagnosis in 141 patients over a 9-year period.  A third of the oldest patients with Stage 1 pleural mesothelioma received false negative results. The figure jumped to 40 percent when age was not considered.  What is PET/CT for Mesothelioma Diagnosis? Positron emission tomography (PET) and computed tomography (CT) are non-invasive methods of looking at internal tissues.  A CT scan takes X-rays from different angles. A computer compiles the images into a … Continue reading PET/CT for Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Age and Stage May Impact Accuracy »

Invasiveness of Peritoneal Mesothelioma: MRI Beats CT for Assessment - New research shows MRI beats CT when it comes to measuring the invasiveness of peritoneal mesothelioma. Scientists from several of the top US cancer centers ran the study. It included nearly 500 mesothelioma patients and appears in the journal Clinical Colorectal Cancer.  The study shows that the invasiveness of peritoneal mesothelioma is more visible on MRI than it is on CT. The news could make a difference in how doctors plan peritoneal mesothelioma treatment.  Peritoneal Cancer Index and Mesothelioma Peritoneal mesothelioma cancer grows on the peritoneal membrane lining the abdomen. Like all forms of mesothelioma, it usually comes from exposure to asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for about a fifth of all mesothelioma cases.  Doctors assess the invasiveness of peritoneal mesothelioma … Continue reading Invasiveness of Peritoneal Mesothelioma: MRI Beats CT for Assessment »

Tracking Mesothelioma Recurrence: FDG-PET/CT Versus CT - FDG-PET/CT may be a more effective way to track malignant pleural mesothelioma recurrence than contrast-enhanced CT scanning.  That is the conclusion of cancer researchers with Japan’s Hyogo College of Medicine. The researchers focused on fifty patients who underwent radical surgery for pleural mesothelioma. Afterwards, doctors used both FDG-PET/CT and contrast-enhanced CT scans to track mesothelioma progression. Two experienced examiners assessed the cases. They concluded that FDG-PET/CT was more accurate than CT for diagnosing mesothelioma recurrence. Mesothelioma Recurrence After Surgery Pleural mesothelioma is one of the most difficult cancers to treat. It arises in the layers of the pleural membrane that surrounds the lungs. Mesothelioma tumors tend to grow and spread quickly. Treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy can sometimes slow … Continue reading Tracking Mesothelioma Recurrence: FDG-PET/CT Versus CT »