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…

New Tools Help Pathologists Make Mesothelioma Diagnosis
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New Tools Help Pathologists Make Mesothelioma Diagnosis

ByAlex Strauss

Pathologists may be able to do a better job of diagnosing mesothelioma in the lab, thanks to a new set of tools released by the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. A rare malignancy, mesothelioma typically carries a poor prognosis. Part of the reason may be the difficulty of making an accurate diagnosis. Even with sophisticated testing capabilities, including immunohistochemical staining and electron microscopy, it can be difficult to distinguish mesothelioma from other types of cancer. Now, pathologists who work with the International Mesothelioma Interest Group have come up with a list of guidelines they hope will help streamline the process in laboratories around the world. Drawing on their own experiences, as well as studies in peer-reviewed publications and text books, the group came…