How Can I Get Tested for an Asbestos Related Disease?
If you are exhibiting symptoms of an asbestos-related illness, your doctor will likely begin by taking your complete medical history, including any known exposure to asbestos. He or she may then conduct a thorough physical examination, focusing on areas of pain or discomfort that may indicate the presence of mesothelioma. Based on the information gathered in the history and physical, your doctor may order special tests to assist in a mesothelioma diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is confirmed, other tests may be used to evaluate the location and extent of the disease and to track the effectiveness of treatment.
Tests used in the diagnosis and monitoring of asbestos-related illnesses include:
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Chest X-ray. This is often the first test used in the diagnosis of asbestos-related illness, particularly if the patient has shortness of breath or a persistent cough. A chest X-ray may show abnormalities associated with pleural mesothelioma, including pleural thickening, calcium deposits, or changes in the lung structure due to asbestos exposure.
Computed tomography (CT) scan. A CT scan is a type of X-ray that takes multiple images of the body. These images are enhanced through the use of a contrast dye, which is either injected into the patient or taken orally. A computer then combines the individual pictures to create detailed, cross-sectional images of the part of the body that is being studied. With respect to mesothelioma, CT scans are helpful in determining whether or not the cancer is present, its exact location, and the extent of its spread throughout the body. Additionally, CT scans can provide insights as to whether or not a mesothelioma treatment has been helpful in shrinking a tumor or slowing the cancer’s spread.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. In a PET scan, the patient is injected with glucose (a form of sugar) containing a radioactive atom. Cancer cells in the body absorb this “radioactive sugar.” A special camera is then used to tell the doctor where radioactivity is present in the body, indicating areas that may contain cancer. Although a PET scan does not provide the highly detailed image that a CT scan does, it can be useful in determining if a cancer has spread, or metastasized.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI is a sophisticated soft-tissue scanning tool that uses strong magnets and radio waves instead of X-rays. With an MRI, the patient is placed in a large cylindrical tube while an imaging machine slowly “scans” their body to provide detailed images of internal soft tissue. In some cases, an MRI can be useful in pinpointing the location and size of a tumor. For patients with mesothelioma, it can also help doctors determine if the cancer has penetrated through the diaphragm into the abdomen.
Biopsy. In a biopsy, a surgeon removes a sample of suspicious tissue that will later be carefully examined under a microscope by a pathologist. A biopsy may be performed in different ways, depending on the location of the abnormality. In some cases, tissue samples may be obtained through relatively simple outpatient procedures, while other patients may require more complex surgery in the chest or abdomen. Below are several types of biopsy methods that may be used in testing for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses:
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Needle biopsy: A long, hollow needle is inserted through the skin and into the pleura (lining of the lungs) to remove a small sample of the tumor for testing.
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Thoracoscopy: A thin, lighted tube with a small video camera on the end is inserted through a small incision in the chest wall, and pieces of tissue are removed for testing.
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Laparoscopy: A flexible tube containing a tiny video camera is inserted into the abdomen through small incisions on the front of the abdomen, and small pieces of a peritoneal tumor are removed for testing.
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Mediastinoscopy: While a patient is under general anesthesia, a hollow, lighted tube is inserted behind the breastbone. Special instruments are used to take tissue samples from lymph nodes.
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Surgical biopsy: A surgeon opens up the entire chest (thoracotomy) or abdominal cavity (laparotomy) to obtain large portions of a tumor or in some cases, the entire tumor.
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Bronchoscopic biopsy: A long, flexible fiber-optic tube called a "bronchoscope" is passed down the throat, allowing the doctor to examine the patient's main airways for tumors.
Blood tests. When a person has mesothelioma, they often have higher levels of certain proteins in their blood than healthy patients. While these elevated levels do not mean that mesothelioma is present, they do increase the possibility of a mesothelioma diagnosis. Blood testing is also used following a mesothelioma diagnosis to help the doctor understand the extent of the disease and determine how well vital organs—such as the kidneys and liver—are functioning. It can also be useful in following a patient’s progress during and after mesothelioma treatment.
Pulmonary function tests. After a mesothelioma diagnosis is made, a doctor may perform pulmonary function tests (PFTs) to assess how well the patient’s lungs are functioning. This test will give the doctor or surgeon a good idea of whether surgery is a safe option. It will also indicate how much lung tissue can be removed without causing long-term breathing problems for the patient.
If you believe or know you have been exposed to asbestos, be sure to talk to your doctor. Frequent check-ups and asbestos disease testing are vital tools for staying one step ahead of asbestos-related health problems.