Breaking Down Mesothelioma: Diagnosis and Treatment Options
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Breaking Down Mesothelioma: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

ByHolly Zink

An international team of scientists from India, Malaysia, and Indonesia published an overview of the diagnosis and treatment of mesothelioma. Their report was published in the scientific journal Frontiers in Oncology. Understanding Mesothelioma Diagnosis and Treatment Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive tumor that grows in the lining of certain body cavities. It usually happens in the chest, abdomen, or around the heart. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a harmful substance that was once used in many industries. Even though asbestos is now banned in many places, the number of mesothelioma cases is still increasing. Diagnosing mesothelioma is challenging because it can look like more common diseases. To diagnose mesothelioma, doctors often use imaging tests like X-rays, CT…

Collapsed Lung: A Potential Early Indicator of Mesothelioma
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Collapsed Lung: A Potential Early Indicator of Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Experiencing a collapsed lung may be an early sign of mesothelioma. This is the finding of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology. Early Diagnosis is Important Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos that is hard for doctors to diagnose. Many of the symptoms for mesothelioma could also be caused by other, more common, diseases. It usually requires many tests to diagnose mesothelioma. Doctors usually start with a physical exam, then to an imaging scan like an X-ray or CT scan. If they see signs of mesothelioma, they will perform a biopsy to test a sample of tissue for cancer. The delay is diagnosis also delays treatment, which has a negative impact on survival. Investigating…

Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Breakthrough Blood Test Method
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Revolutionizing Mesothelioma Diagnosis: Breakthrough Blood Test Method

ByHolly Zink

A study conducted by researchers from China is the first to use a new method to analyze blood samples of people with mesothelioma. The method is called gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The researchers were hoping that this method would help them find mesothelioma biomarkers in blood samples. A Promising Step Forward Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. Pleural mesothelioma grows in the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma grows in the abdomen. This cancer is caused by exposure to a toxic material called asbestos. Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. These symptoms depend on the type of…

Identifying Mesothelioma: How Extracellular Vesicles Could Be the Key
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Identifying Mesothelioma: How Extracellular Vesicles Could Be the Key

ByHolly Zink

Scientists believe that particles called extracellular vesicles could be used as biomarkers to identify malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Malignant pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and chest cavity. It is caused by exposure to asbestos, usually at work. It has a low survival rate, so it is important to find ways to diagnose it early. It is also important for doctors to be able to predict how it will develop in patients. How Mesothelioma is Diagnosed Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person goes to a doctor because they are experiencing symptoms. For MPM, a person might feel shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and…

Mesothelioma, A Most Difficult Diagnosis
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Mesothelioma, A Most Difficult Diagnosis

ByHolly Zink

A case published in the International Journal of Surgical Pathology is another example of how hard it can be to reach a mesothelioma diagnosis. Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the lining of the lungs and chest wall. Signs and symptoms may include shortness of breath due to fluid around the lung, chest pain, cough, and fatigue. A Difficult Diagnosis In this case, a 93-year-old man went to the hospital because he was having trouble breathing. A CT scan showed doctors that the man had a hole in his lung that was causing air to leak out into the chest cavity. This is not a typical symptom of pleural mesothelioma. To…

New and More Objective Way to Diagnose Mesothelioma
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New and More Objective Way to Diagnose Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

A study published in Cancers looked at a new way to diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). The usual way to diagnose MPM is through a biopsy or looking at fluid in the chest, but these methods are not very accurate. The researchers in this study used mass spectrometry-based proteomics to look for biomarkers that can pinpoint MPM in the body. Identifying Cancer MPM is a serious cancer that is linked to exposure to asbestos and is usually found late, making it hard to treat. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in about 2,000 people in the United States every year. The prognosis is poor, with a median survival rate of 12 months. Conventional treatment may include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Improving the…

New Antibody to Diagnose Mesothelioma
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New Antibody to Diagnose Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Scientists are trying to find ways to diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) more easily. An antibody called SKM9-2 could be the answer. A team of researchers from Japan are hoping to use SKM9-2 to develop new drugs to treat MPM. These new drugs might be able to target the cancer cells directly. Road to Definitive Diagnosis MPM is an aggressive cancer caused by asbestos that affects the area around the lungs. There are approximately 2,000 cases of mesothelioma diagnosed in the United States every year. The road to a definitive diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma can sometimes take weeks. In the early stages, people with pleural mesothelioma commonly experience shortness of breath, chest pain, persistent dry cough, and unexplained weight loss….

The Challenges of Diagnosing Mesothelioma

The Challenges of Diagnosing Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

The case of a 67-year-old man complaining of abdominal pain is a sobering example of the challenges of diagnosing malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the body’s internal organs. When mesothelioma grows in the lining of the abdomen, it’s called malignant peritoneal mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is generally caused by exposure to asbestos. This exposure usually happens on the job, and it can take years for symptoms to appear. In this case, the elderly man went to the emergency room for help with abdominal pain. This pain had been getting worse over the last month. He was also experiencing shortness of breath and fatigue. After…

New Mesothelioma Diagnosis Technique
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New Mesothelioma Diagnosis Technique

ByHolly Zink

A patient was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma using a new technique. Her doctors used endobronchial ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biopsy at the same time. These two techniques are less invasive than the usual diagnostic procedures. This could be helpful for diagnosing mesothelioma patients who are in poor health. Signs of Cancer Mesothelioma, an asbestos-linked malignancy that starts on the membrane around the lungs, can be difficult to diagnose. Mesothelioma diagnosis usually involves several tests. Patients may have imaging scans, blood tests, and a biopsy. By the time mesothelioma is finally diagnosed, it may already be too late for treatment to help. A 48-year-old woman went to the hospital because she had been experiencing shortness of breath and coughing for…

Ultrasound More Accurate for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
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Ultrasound More Accurate for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Ultrasound may be a more accurate and cheaper option than CT scans for malignant pleural mesothelioma. A group of Italian researchers examined the use of ultrasound to help diagnose malignant pleural mesothelioma. The goal was to help doctors locate optimal sites for biopsies. Diagnosing Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that develops from mesothelium cells. The mesothelium is the lining that covers many of our internal organs. Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, a toxic substance used in industrial and consumer products. When mesothelioma develops in the lining of our lungs, it is called malignant pleural mesothelioma. It can take around 40 years for malignant pleural mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure. Diagnosing malignant pleural…