New Way to Identify Biopsy Sites to Diagnose Mesothelioma
|

New Way to Identify Biopsy Sites to Diagnose Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A study in Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis explores a new way to identify biopsy sites to diagnose mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure. There are a few different types of mesothelioma. One type is malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. It is hard to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma because its symptoms could also be caused by other diseases. It usually requires many tests to diagnose peritoneal mesothelioma. The delay in diagnosing peritoneal mesothelioma also delays treatment. The first diagnostic test is usually computed tomography (CT). CT scans are like a more sophisticated X-ray. The results of the CT scan help doctors locate the best place to conduct a biopsy. A biopsy is the examination of tissue to discover if the…

Mesothelioma Subtypes Often Misclassified by Biopsy
| | | | |

Mesothelioma Subtypes Often Misclassified by Biopsy

ByAlex Strauss

Pleural biopsy is not perfect when it comes to telling the difference between the three mesothelioma subtypes. But misclassification could lead to shorter survival.  That is the conclusion reached by top mesothelioma researchers in Brescia, Italy.  They compared autopsy records from 134 Italian mesothelioma patients. The patients were either shipyard workers or their spouses. The researchers found that the mesothelioma subtypes identified from biopsy tissue were incorrect a large percent of the time. Misclassification matters because it impacts which mesothelioma treatments doctors choose.  The Three Mesothelioma Subtypes Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive malignancy on the lung lining. It is caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma cells fall into three mesothelioma subtypes based on certain cellular characteristics. Pleural mesothelioma is notoriously…

Mesothelioma Biopsies: Ultrasound Guidance Beats CT
| | | |

Mesothelioma Biopsies: Ultrasound Guidance Beats CT

ByAlex Strauss

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…

Mesothelioma and Metastatic Cancer: New Test Can Reliably Tell the Difference
| | |

Mesothelioma and Metastatic Cancer: New Test Can Reliably Tell the Difference

ByAlex Strauss

Italian scientists have come up with what they believe is a nearly foolproof way to tell the difference between mesothelioma and metastatic cancer.  Malignant mesothelioma is a membrane cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Metastatic cancer can start anywhere in the body. It can cause tumors on the pleural membrane that may be mistaken for mesothelioma.  It is important for doctors to distinguish between these two types of malignancies. Mesothelioma and metastatic cancer are often treated differently. The Italian researchers say two biomarkers may make it easier to know which is which.  The Difference Between Mesothelioma and Metastatic Cancer Metastatic cancer or metastatic carcinoma is cancer that has spread to another part of the body from where it started. This usually…

Liquid Biopsy for Early Stage Mesothelioma Diagnosis
| | | |

Liquid Biopsy for Early Stage Mesothelioma Diagnosis

ByAlex Strauss

Canadian researchers are exploring a liquid biopsy test that could lead to early diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma. The test is based on mesothelial precursor cells (MPC). The researchers say these cells – in combination with mesothelin and some kinds of stem cells – “could be implicated” in the development of mesothelioma.  A liquid biopsy detects cells in blood instead of tissue. The University of Toronto scientists think MPC in blood may be a new mesothelioma biomarker. If it proves to be true, this kind of biopsy might be able to identify mesothelioma patients even before they have symptoms. How Liquid Biopsy Works Patients with suspected mesothelioma may have many tests. Imaging scans and blood tests can help tell if a…

Accurate Diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma with History and Imaging Only
| |

Accurate Diagnosis of Pleural Mesothelioma with History and Imaging Only

ByAlex Strauss

Medical history and CT imaging may be enough to make an accurate diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma, even without a biopsy. That finding comes from a team of French and Canadian researchers led by Universite Laval in Quebec.  Biopsy is usually considered critical for accurate diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma. But the French and Canadian team says imaging studies may provide enough information to make a diagnosis.  This could be especially good news for people who are not healthy enough to undergo thoracoscopy. Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnostic Procedure: First Steps Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that grows on the membranes around internal organs.  This cancer is rare and notoriously difficult to diagnose, especially in…

Pleural Mesothelioma Staging: These Overlooked Lymph Nodes Might Help
| |

Pleural Mesothelioma Staging: These Overlooked Lymph Nodes Might Help

ByAlex Strauss

An often-ignored set of lymph nodes behind the ribs could help make pleural mesothelioma staging more accurate and valuable.  Staging is the process of determining how advanced a patient’s cancer is. It involves looking at various different factors and assigning a rating between 0 and 4. A higher stage indicates more extensive cancer. A new report suggests that the posterior intercostal lymph nodes behind the ribs play a more important role in pleural mesothelioma staging than previously thought. Mesothelioma patients with cancer in these nodes lived half as long as other mesothelioma patients.  Researchers in Maryland and Pennsylvania say removing and examining these nodes may lead to more accurate staging, more informed treatment decisions, and better outcomes.   How Lymph Nodes…

Minimally Invasive Lymph Node Staging May Prevent Unnecessary Mesothelioma Surgery
| | | | | |

Minimally Invasive Lymph Node Staging May Prevent Unnecessary Mesothelioma Surgery

ByAlex Strauss

A minimally invasive procedure for lymph node staging may help some pleural mesothelioma patients avoid the pain and risk of surgery. That is the conclusion of a recent study on endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA).  EBUS-TBNA is a minimally invasive method for testing the lymph nodes deep in the chest (mediastinal lymph nodes). If lymph node staging shows evidence of pleural mesothelioma, surgery is less likely to be effective.  Mediastinal Lymph Node Staging and Mesothelioma Pleural mesothelioma is a rare cancer that starts on the membrane around the lungs. It can spread to the lungs and other organs and is usually fatal.  The mediastinal lymph nodes are located in the area between the lungs. When the body is fighting…

Needle Procedure Could Prevent Unneeded Surgery for Malignant Mesothelioma
| | | |

Needle Procedure Could Prevent Unneeded Surgery for Malignant Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

A minimally invasive method for cancer staging could prevent unnecessary surgery for malignant mesothelioma. The method involves putting a needle into the chest behind the breast bone. This area is called the mediastinum. The mediastinum contains critical lymph nodes. The presence or absence of cancer cells in these nodes can help determine whether a patient needs surgery for malignant mesothelioma. Now, a group of Canadian doctors say an ultrasound-guided needle biopsy procedure can provide as much information as more invasive options with less risk and pain. Staging Helps Direct Surgery for Malignant Mesothelioma Most mesothelioma patients receive chemotherapy. If the patient is healthy enough and the cancer has not spread, the patient may also have surgery for malignant mesothelioma. Some…

New Study Could Lead to a Mesothelioma Breath Test
| | | | | |

New Study Could Lead to a Mesothelioma Breath Test

ByAlex Strauss

A large new study now underway may eventually make it possible to create a mesothelioma breath test. Cancer Research UK has launched a two-year clinical trial of the Breath Biopsy. The Breath Biopsy is a device that detects molecules exhaled by people with cancer. The Need for Early Mesothelioma Detection Malignant mesothelioma is one of the deadliest types of cancer. Most people who get mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos. By the time they receive a diagnosis, many mesothelioma patients have advanced disease. Late diagnosis is one of the main reasons people with mesothelioma often die within a year. When mesothelioma cancer is in an advanced stage, it is less likely to respond to treatment. Scientists around the world are…