Mesothelioma Prognosis and Survival Rates: Women and Extended Pleurectomy Decortication

Mesothelioma Prognosis and Survival Rates: Women and Extended Pleurectomy Decortication

ByHolly Zink

Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a fast-spreading cancer tied to asbestos. Sadly, patients on standard treatments survive just 12–18 months. However, recent studies show better outcomes for some, especially women. They receive ePD surgery, part of a combined treatment. Now, a new article examines mesothelioma patient outcomes. It looks at the factors impacting survival and the benefits of specific treatments. Understanding Pleural Mesothelioma and the Pleural Space Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer in the pleura, the thin membrane around the lungs and chest. It’s mainly caused by asbestos exposure, from work or the environment. This cancer affects the pleural space, crucial for lung movement during breathing. A tumor or pleural effusion, excess fluid, can harm breathing and worsen mesothelioma symptoms. Clinical…

Understanding Mesothelioma Diagnosis Through Fluid Samples

Understanding Mesothelioma Diagnosis Through Fluid Samples

ByHolly Zink

Diagnosing mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure, can be challenging. One method used is serous fluid cytology (SFC). SFC involves examining fluid samples for cancer cells. But, distinguishing between reactive cells and cancerous cells can be difficult. Ancillary Tests for Better Diagnosis To improve accuracy, doctors may use ancillary tests. These include BAP1 immunohistochemistry (IHC) and fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) for CDKN2A deletion. These tests help identify specific markers that show the presence of cancer cells, making the diagnosis more reliable. A new article reviewed cases of SFC samples taken from patients suspected of having mesothelioma since 2012. Researchers found that out of 110 cases, 61 were confirmed to have mesothelioma based on SFC results. Most patients were male,…

Understanding Mesothelioma: The Impact of BAP1 and p16 in Accurate Diagnosis

Understanding Mesothelioma: The Impact of BAP1 and p16 in Accurate Diagnosis

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma is a rare and serious type of cancer that affects the lining of organs like the lungs and abdomen. It is caused by exposure to a harmful substance called asbestos, which is sometimes used in construction materials. Detecting mesothelioma can be tricky, and doctors often need special tests to be sure. A recent study looked into two important factors, called BAP1 and p16, to help diagnose mesothelioma more accurately. Redefining Mesothelioma Diagnosis Between 2019 and 2022, scientists studied 21 fluid samples from around the lungs and abdomen of people suspected to have mesothelioma. These samples were examined closely to find out if the BAP1 protein was missing and if the p16 gene had certain changes. These tests were important…

Navigating Mesothelioma Diagnosis: The Power of Uroplakin-IIIb
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Navigating Mesothelioma Diagnosis: The Power of Uroplakin-IIIb

ByHolly Zink

Figuring out if someone has mesothelioma or lung cancer can be tricky for doctors. They often use special tests called immunohistochemical stains to help them. But sometimes, these tests are not specific enough on their own. Recently, a big study found a potential new marker called uroplakin-IIIb (UpIIIb). It might be really good at telling if someone has mesothelioma. Decoding Mesothelioma and Diagnostic Accuracy Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Three different types of mesothelioma are identified based on the shape of the cancer cells. About half of mesothelioma cases are the epithelioid type, and 10% are the sarcomatoid type. The rest of mesothelioma cases are a mix of epithelioid and sarcomatoid, and this type is…

A Noninvasive Breakthrough in Diagnosing Mesothelioma
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A Noninvasive Breakthrough in Diagnosing Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Researchers from Sweden think that noninvasive immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis can correctly diagnose mesothelioma. This could be helpful to doctors who want to look for mesothelioma in their patients. It can be hard to diagnose mesothelioma and doctors often need to use invasive methods to reach a diagnosis. An Accurate Mesothelioma Diagnosis Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and the symptoms usually look like other, more common, diseases. Because of this, doctors struggle to identify mesothelioma in their patients. Symptoms typically include fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, and coughing. The symptoms are caused by cancerous cells that develop due to a person’s exposure to asbestos. To diagnose mesothelioma, a doctor will first perform a history and physical. The history involves learning…

Rare Mesothelioma of the Liver
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Rare Mesothelioma of the Liver

ByHolly Zink

Doctors in China recently came across a rare case of primary sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma of the liver. This disease is a type of malignant mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Primary sarcomatoid malignant mesothelioma is hard for doctors to diagnose because it is so rare. Doctors also don’t know very much about how it develops or how to treat it. When a person goes to the hospital with symptoms that could be caused by mesothelioma, there are a few different ways to get a diagnosis. Doctors will usually use imaging tests, tissue biopsies, and fluid tests to reach a diagnosis. Diagnosing a Rare Case In this case, a 69-year-old man went to the hospital because he had been having…

Using Artificial Intelligence to Diagnose Mesothelioma
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Using Artificial Intelligence to Diagnose Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Scientists from India are working on building a computer program to help diagnose mesothelioma using artificial intelligence. Diagnosing mesothelioma can be challenging for doctors because it is so rare. Mesothelioma symptoms can also look like symptoms of more common diseases like the flu. The scientists in this study are hoping to use artificial intelligence and machine learning to help doctors reach an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis more quickly. Diagnosis and Showing Symptoms Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. It is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. These symptoms depend on the type of mesothelioma. For mesothelioma in the lungs, these symptoms could include shortness of breath, pain in chest,…

Diagnosing Mesothelioma with DNA in Cancerous Cells
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Diagnosing Mesothelioma with DNA in Cancerous Cells

ByHolly Zink

DNA methylation could be used to diagnose mesothelioma earlier for better treatment outcomes. This is the finding of a study from a team of researchers from Belgium. The researchers analyzed 63 studies that looked at DNA methylation in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. The cancer develops on the thin layer of tissue that covers the lungs and chest wall. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. These symptoms depend on the type of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma in the lungs may cause shortness of breath, pain in chest, and fluid retention. Peritoneal mesothelioma in the abdomen can cause abdominal pain, fatigue, and ascites….

Understanding Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
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Understanding Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Mesothelioma is a cancer that is difficult to diagnose and treat. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma is the most aggressive type of mesothelioma. It also looks different from other types of mesothelioma, making it even harder to diagnose and treat. The cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. It takes decades for symptoms of this cancer to appear, and the symptoms often look like other diseases, like pneumonia. A proper diagnosis can take a long time, which means the cancer has more time to spread. Mesothelioma can be categorized into three groups: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, and biphasic. The type of mesothelioma a patient has depends on the shape of the cancer cells. Epithelioid mesothelioma has cube-shaped or column-shaped cells. Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has cells with…

Needle Biopsy an Effective Alternative for Some Mesothelioma Patients
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Needle Biopsy an Effective Alternative for Some Mesothelioma Patients

ByAlex Strauss

Mesothelioma patients who are not good candidates for thoracoscopy can still get a definitive diagnosis with a procedure called cutting-needle pleural biopsy. A team of Oxford-based scientists compared the two procedures to determine whether ultrasound-guided cutting needle biopsy could produce enough tissue to diagnose mesothelioma. Mesothelioma, an asbestos-linked malignancy that starts on the membrane around the lungs, can be difficult to diagnose. At the same time, because so many patients do not develop symptoms until the disease is in its later stages, rapid and accurate diagnosis is critical. Although patients suspected of having mesothelioma may undergo imaging tests, blood tests for tell-tale biomarkers, and pleural fluid analysis, tissue biopsy and examination of the cells remains the only way to obtain…