Diagnosing mesothelioma begins with a series of tests to confirm that mesothelioma is the correct diagnosis. This process is followed by more tests designed to “stage” the disease-to establish the extent of the disease. The location of the cells (pleural, peritoneal, pericardial, or testicular) will also be a part of the diagnosis.
The mesothelioma diagnostic process begins with a series of tests that can include some of all of an x-ray, a CT scan, and MRI, and a PET scan. A biopsy will reveal whether the cells are cancerous or non-cancerous. If the cells are cancerous, the cell analysis will reveal the type of mesothelioma cells present.
Staging helps determine the extent of the disease. Your doctor will choose from three methods of staging one that is most appropriate for you. These are called the TNM Staging System, The Butchart Staging System and the Brigham Staging System.
Armed with this information, your physician can proceed to develop a mesothelioma treatment plan for you. He will consider four factors:
- Prognostic factors
- Cellular classification
- Staging
- Treatment options by cancer stage
If you have received a diagnosis of mesothelioma you will also have legal factors to consider, and a limited amount of time to file a claim for damages. For a free consultation with a lawyer who has experience and success filing claims for asbestos-related diseases, please contact Brown | Kiely, LLP, serving Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C.
