Understanding Mesothelioma Diagnosis Through Fluid Samples

ByHolly Zink
Understanding Mesothelioma Diagnosis Through Fluid Samples

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, and the average age at diagnosis was 67 years old.

Early Detection Potential

One interesting finding was that in 11 cases, the initial diagnosis of mesothelioma was made based on SFC alone. This suggests that SFC has the potential for early detection of mesothelioma. This could lead to earlier treatment and better outcomes for patients.

SFC was also effective in diagnosing metastatic mesothelioma, with 9 cases initially diagnosed through SFC. In 6 of these cases, SFC was the only method used to diagnose metastatic disease. This highlights the importance of this technique in diagnosing hard-to-reach or hidden cancers.

In conclusion, SFC is a valuable tool in diagnosing mesothelioma, especially when combined with ancillary tests. It provides a reliable method for distinguishing between reactive and cancerous cells, leading to more accurate diagnoses. Also, SFC has the potential for early detection of mesothelioma. Overall, SFC plays a crucial role in the diagnosis and management of mesothelioma, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

Source:

Jones, Terri E., Daniel L. Geisler, Swikrity Upadhyay Baskota, N. Paul Ohori, Jacqueline Cuda Sct, and Samer N. Khader. “Reliably Making the Primary Diagnosis of Mesothelioma Utilizing Serous Fluid Cytology Specimens: An Institutional Experience.” Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology, March 2, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasc.2024.02.006.

 

Similar Posts

Mesothelioma Blood Test May Be Possible
|

Mesothelioma Blood Test May Be Possible

ByAlex Strauss

An international team of researchers is studying the proteins found on the surface of cancer cells in an effort to improve mesothelioma diagnosis. The team, made up of scientists from the US, Switzerland, Italy and Chile, has just published their findings on a new kind of test to identify protein-derived mesothelioma biomarkers in blood serum. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer of the membranes around organs. Because the most common mesothelioma biomarker, mesothelin, is also overproduced by other kinds of cancer cells, it has only limited diagnostic value. A test to identify a set of proteins produced specifically by mesothelioma cells could greatly improve diagnostic accuracy. Led by Ferdinando Cerciello and Bernd Wollscheid of the Institute of Molecular Systems Biology in…

Needle Biopsy “Simple, Safe & Accurate” for Mesothelioma
| |

Needle Biopsy “Simple, Safe & Accurate” for Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

Mesothelioma researchers in China say a biopsy method that involves a single skin puncture can produce good diagnostic results for mesothelioma patients with little pain or risk. The study focused on percutaneous (through the skin) biopsy in patients who had unexplained fluid buildup or swelling in their abdomens. Abdominal distension and fluid buildup (called ascites) can be signs of peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive cancer of the abdominal lining caused by exposure to asbestos. Peritoneal mesothelioma accounts for less than 30% of all mesothelioma cases. Because the symptoms may be vague and often develop many decades after asbestos exposure, peritoneal mesothelioma can be especially challenging to diagnose.  Misdiagnosis and under-diagnosis are not uncommon. In the newest study on percutaneous…

Inflammation Both “Friend and Foe” in Mesothelioma
| |

Inflammation Both “Friend and Foe” in Mesothelioma

ByAlex Strauss

An immune system response that causes mesothelioma symptoms such as fever, fatigue, and weight loss may also be helpful to clinicians as a way to find and treat the disease. Scientists with The Asbestos Diseases Research Institute in Sydney, Australia make that case that both systemic inflammation (throughout the body) and at the site of a tumor – has long been associated with mesothelioma and other cancers. Inflammation results when the body attempts to address the imbalances of cancer by producing more of certain immune system cells. Some inflammatory markers, such as CD+8 T-cells and C-reactive protein, have been linked to better prognosis in mesothelioma. Other inflammatory markers, such as certain macrophages and a high neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, can signal the…

FDG PET-CT Results Could Lead to Improved Mesothelioma Treatment
| |

FDG PET-CT Results Could Lead to Improved Mesothelioma Treatment

ByAlex Strauss

In a recent study, researchers say a better understanding of certain diagnostic criteria could result in more targeted treatments for malignant mesothelioma. In a recent published report, doctors from the medical school at Dicle University in Diyarbakir, Turkey measured the relationship between PET-CT scan results and survival in 177 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The patients were diagnosed between April 2007 and April 2011. They had a mean age of 55.4 and most (56%) were male. Patients in the study all had FDG PET-CT scans before beginning their mesothelioma treatment. FDG PET-CT scanning is a powerful imaging tool for mesothelioma and other cancers that combines a radioactive tracer with a combination of positron emission tomography and computed tomography scanning.  Because…

Mesothelioma Surgeons Report New Biopsy Technique
| |

Mesothelioma Surgeons Report New Biopsy Technique

ByAlex Strauss

A team of surgeons in Maryland have demonstrated how using a standard biopsy tool in a new way could improve the biopsy process for certain mesothelioma patients. An aggressive cancer of the pleural lining around the lungs, malignant pleural mesothelioma usually requires a tissue biopsy to make a definitive diagnosis. Often this is done using a rigid tool called a thoracoscope inserted into the chest wall while the patient is under general anesthesia. However, mesothelioma doctors at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center detail the case of a 79-year-old suspected mesothelioma patient whose biopsy was done in a minimally-invasive way, under conscious sedation, thanks to the novel use of a standard tool. Although the patient had several of the common signs…

New Serum Marker Could Improve Mesothelioma Diagnosis
|

New Serum Marker Could Improve Mesothelioma Diagnosis

ByAlex Strauss

Japanese researchers believe they have found a way to diagnose a rare form of mesothelioma earlier using a simple blood test. Diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (DMPM), which represents about a fourth of all mesothelioma cases, is an aggressive malignancy that spreads across the lining of the abdomen. In most cases, DMPM is lethal within a year. The standard treatment for diffuse malignant peritoneal mesothelioma is cytoreductive surgery to remove as much of the mesothelioma as possible, followed by intraperitoneal chemotherapy to destroy residual cancer cells. In some studies, this approach has resulted in 5-year survival rates of 30 to 60 percent. However, it is most successful when it is performed early, while the primary mesothelioma tumor is more easily removed. Like all forms of…