Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you or a loved one in New York suffers from a persistent cough, shortness of breath, weight loss, or stomach pains, contact a doctor as soon as possible. Each of these symptoms can be caused by mesothelioma. Though these are non-specific symptoms that could also indicate a less-serious disease, there are standard diagnostic tests your doctor can perform to obtain a proper diagnosis. Be sure to advise your physician of any time that you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos, or of any occupational risk factors. An early diagnosis of mesothelioma provides the best chance for successful treatment.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, contact the New York mesothelioma lawyers of Belluck & Fox, LLP, today. Our NY asbestos injury attorneys have investigated mesothelioma cases in every county in the state and have assisted mesothelioma sufferers all across the State of New York – from Buffalo to Binghamton to Plattsburgh. Belluck & Fox provides personalized and professional legal representation and can advise you of the legal options available for you and your family.

For more information, call Belluck & Fox, LLP’s New York mesothelioma lawyers toll-free at 1-877-NYLAW09 (695-2909), or use our online contact form.

New York State communities we serve include Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Corning, Elmira, the Finger Lakes region, Jamestown, Long Island, Newburgh, New York, the North Country region, Oswego, Plattsburgh, Poughkeepsie, Rochester, Schenectady, Syracuse, Utica, Watertown and Westchester County.

Initial Evaluation of Mesothelioma

Initial evaluations are critical for helping doctors determine whether their patents has risk factors for the development of mesothelioma. To determine your risk factors and symptoms, your physician will compile a medical history to help determine the timeframe and environment in which you may have been exposed to asbestos.

Patients should always be proactive in their medical treatment, and open communication between patient and doctor is crucial for obtaining a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other disease as soon as possible. It’s critical that you share all relevant information about your work history and likelihood of asbestos exposure.

In addition to constructing a detailed medical profile, your doctor area will perform a complete physical. During that physical exam your doctor may:

Listen to you inhale and exhale. An absence of sound or muted breath sounds in your chest may indicate fluid in the chest cavity, including pleural effusions.
Listen to each side of your chest as you make vowel sounds. A marked difference in the sound on either side of your chest may indicate a buildup of fluid.
Tap on, or percuss, the chest. A dull, solid sound instead of a hollow resonance may indicate fluid or a mass (tumor) in the chest cavity.
Feel for swollen lymph nodes.

A routine physical would identify few indicators of mesothelioma. After considering the patient’s symptoms, medical history, specific risk factors (such as work environment and asbestos exposure), and results of a complete physical examination, the doctor can use any of several diagnostic tests to determine whether the disease is present.

Diagnostic Testing for Mesothelioma

Doctors in New York State use a variety of diagnostic procedures to determine whether a patient suffers from mesothelioma. Comparing results from imaging scans, tissue biopsies, pulmonary function tests, and other diagnostic techniques, the presence of mesothelioma can be identified.

These tests can deliver a clear diagnosis of mesothelioma. Early diagnosis is important for developing a treatment plan and increasing the patient’s long-term prognosis.

Imaging

Doctors can visually examine the patient’s internal organs and tissues:

Chest x-rays can identify thickening of the pleura, irregular masses in the chest, fluid in the lungs (pleural effusion), and/or abnormally low lung fissures (spaces between the lobes of the lungs).
Abdominal x-rays may indicate masses or other abnormalities of the abdominal cavity and its organs.
CT or CAT (computed tomography) scans, computerized x-rays, provide detailed images of the body’s insides. Combined images create a cross-sectional depiction of the specified area, and a radiologist can identify abnormalities of the lungs and pleura.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) obtains cross-sectional images with a strong magnetic field and radio waves. MRI images are much sharper than routine x-ray images without the harmful radiation. MRIs can depict “soft tissues,” which helps to measure the extent of mesothelioma. New MRI techniques help measure the growth of tumors in the pleura and thoracic wall better than older MRI images could.
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) uses a camera and tracers that highlight abnormal metabolic activity to indicate active disease in the patient’s body. Because disease cells metabolize sugars quicker than normal cells do, a PET scan can identify minor changes in the patient’s cancer. PET scans also identify extremely small cancer cells, indicate benign or malignant cells and help determine how therapies are affecting growth of the disease.

Pulmonary Function Tests

Several types of pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are used to evaluate a patient’s respiratory system for signs of pulmonary disease or to monitor a patient’s response to treatment. PFTs include simple peak-flow measurements, complex body plethysmography and ventilation/perfusion scans.

Pathological Tests

A pathological exam is the final test for determining whether mesothelioma is present in the patient’s body. This requires a biopsy, which is removal of tissue from the body for examination under a microscope. The final diagnosis will be explained in a pathology report.

There are several types of biopsies:

Fine-Needle Aspiration. A tissue sample is cut out with a small needle.
Thoracoscopy. A tissue sample from a pleural or pericardial tumor is obtained by first visualizing it with a telescope-like instrument connected to a video camera (a thoracoscope) inserted through a small chest incision, and then using special forceps to take a biopsy. A thoracoscope may also be used when collecting fluid samples.
Laparoscopy. A piece of a peritoneal tumor is obtained through a flexible tube attached to a video camera and inserted into the abdominal cavity through small incisions. Fluid can also be collected during laparoscopy.
Bronchoscopy. When pleural mesothelioma is suspected, tissue from the bronchi is excised through a flexible, lighted tube inserted down the trachea.
Mediastinoscopy. A lighted tube inserted under the patient’s sternum (chest bone) at the neck and then moved into the chest cavity is used to biopsy the lymph nodes. This technique can also be used to make a visual diagnosis.

Mesothelioma Stages

When tests find pleural mesothelioma in an Elmira patient, the physician then determines the “stage” of the disease, which helps to formulate the best treatment plan. Stage level indicates the progression of the disease.

Stage I pleural mesothelioma is present in one isolated area.
Stage II mesothelioma has spread beyond the initial location.
Stage III mesothelioma has spread to multiple tissues or structures of the body, perhaps including the lymph nodes.
Stage IV mesothelioma is present over a large portion of the body, sometimes far from the chest. Stage IV mesothelioma is advanced cancer.

Contact Our New York Mesothelioma Lawyers Today

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, contact the New York mesothelioma lawyers of Belluck & Fox, LLP, today. Our NY asbestos injury attorneys have investigated mesothelioma cases in every county in the state and have assisted mesothelioma sufferers across the State of New York. Belluck & Fox provides personalized and professional legal representation and can advise you of the legal options available for you and your family.

For more information, call Belluck & Fox, LLP’s New York mesothelioma lawyers toll-free at 1-877-NYLAW09 (695-2909), or use our online contact form.