New Mesothelioma Diagnosis Technique
|

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…

Understanding Sarcomatoid Mesothelioma
|

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…

Earlier Mesothelioma Diagnosis with Machine Learning Model
| |

Earlier Mesothelioma Diagnosis with Machine Learning Model

ByHolly Zink

A new machine learning model can diagnose mesothelioma better than any current model. The model provides new hope for early diagnosis and better treatment of malignant mesothelioma. A machine learning tool is a computer program that gets “smarter” the more it runs. One challenge in predicting mesothelioma is that mesothelioma is very rare. With the exception of mesothelioma specialists, most doctors never even see a single case. The same is true for pathologists. If they do not see mesothelioma patients, they are less likely to see differences that may influence the diagnosis. Doctors trained the new machine learning tool to recognize and diagnose malignant mesothelioma. It works more quickly and accurately. Earlier mesothelioma diagnosis would allow for earlier intervention. This…

New Tips for Diagnosing Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma
| | |

New Tips for Diagnosing Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma

ByHolly Zink

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that often mimics other conditions. This can make it difficult to get a definitive diagnosis. But a new report in Pathology Case Reviews provides tips for identifying peritoneal mesothelioma. Diagnosing Malignant Peritoneal Mesothelioma Mesothelioma is usually diagnosed after a person experiencing symptoms goes to a doctor. Patients often complain of vague abdominal symptoms, such as pain, nausea, bloating, weight loss. Distinguishing peritoneal mesothelioma from other cancers is important to ensure appropriate treatment. One thing a doctor may do is perform a tissue biopsy. The doctor will remove a part of the tissue (suspected mesothelioma) for examination. A biopsy is the “gold standard” and the single most important procedure for an accurate diagnosis. Doctors…

COVID-19 Pandemic Had Little Or No Impact On New Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnoses
| |

COVID-19 Pandemic Had Little Or No Impact On New Malignant Mesothelioma Diagnoses

ByHolly Zink

A new study published in Thoracic Cancer discussed the impact of COVID‐19 pandemic on new mesothelioma diagnoses in Italy. Malignant mesothelioma is a rare disease of great interest to the scientific community and to public health. This is due to its high lethality and its association with asbestos exposure. The timely diagnosis of mesothelioma is important. Although it may not change the prognosis of the disease, it can help in treatment strategies. It can also help in documenting previous exposure to asbestos. This can contribute to any request for compensation. New Study Shows Promising Results During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a delay in the diagnosis of oncological diseases. This was because many departments were converted into COVID wards. And…

Can Mesothelioma Be Diagnosed with Lung Fluid Alone?
| | | | |

Can Mesothelioma Be Diagnosed with Lung Fluid Alone?

ByAlex Strauss

The diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma can be a complicated process, but a team of Japanese scientists says it can be greatly simplified by the right kind of test at the right time. In an article in the journal Pathology, the team claims that a definitive diagnosis of mesothelioma can be made from a sample of excess lung fluid. Excess fluid collection around the lungs, called pleural effusion, is common in people with mesothelioma and several other kinds of cancer. Approximately 70 percent of people with mesothelioma develop pleural effusions. Because effusion is often one of the earliest signs of the disease, the Japanese doctors maintain that this fluid could be useful for making an early mesothelioma diagnosis. “Early in the incidence…

Diagnosing Mesothelioma With a Breath Test
| |

Diagnosing Mesothelioma With a Breath Test

ByAlex Strauss

Diagnosing mesothelioma may one day be as simple as taking a breath test. A team of researchers in the Netherlands have been testing the effectiveness of an electronic nose in detecting mesothelioma, a fast-growing cancer caused by exposure to asbestos.  Mesothelioma is notoriously difficult to diagnose because it often mimics other lung-related diseases.  In addition, some of the most effective methods for diagnosing mesothelioma carry a high risk of complications, especially in the elderly – the group most likely to get the disease because of its long latency. Doctors in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Amsterdam Medical Center conducted an experiment to determine whether an electronic nose called the Cyranose 320 could tell the difference between healthy people,…