Diagnosing Mesothelioma via Biopsy

How Doctors Use Biopsies to Detect Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is an uncommon cancer that usually occurs in the tissue linings of the lung cavity. More rarely, mesothelioma can develop in the lining of the abdomen or the heart. Due to the rarity of this disease, diagnosing it can be difficult for less experienced doctors. Even an experienced mesothelioma doctor may have an issue determining the condition, due to how it’s easily mistaken for lung cancer or other illnesses. A biopsy is the only definite way to diagnose mesothelioma and usually needs to be performed if the veteran patient chooses to pursue legal recourse.

Needle Biopsy

A doctor may perform a needle biopsy if the patient is exhibiting mesothelioma symptoms. To perform a needle biopsy, the doctor will remove a small piece of the tumor from either the lung tissue, chest, abdomen, or another area, and send it to be tested.

First, the doctor inserts a long, hollow needle through the skin of the suspected area (sometimes with the guidance of imaging tests) where they’ll then remove small samples directly from the tumor. Normally, numbing medicine is all that’s needed for this procedure.

Pleural Biopsy

This type of biopsy gathers a sample specifically from the tissue lining the lungs or inside the chest cavity. It serves to analyze the presence of disease or infection. The health care provider will administer a numbing drug to the patient. They start by injecting it through the skin and into the lung tissue lining or chest wall. Then, they’ll insert the hollow needle and remove a sample for testing.

Sometimes this test is performed with a fiberoptic scope. This allows the doctor to get a better view of the area.

Paracentesis, Thoracentesis, and Pericardiocentesis

This procedure done in a cancer treatment center is a lot like the pleural biopsy, however, it removes fluid for testing instead of tumor samples. The hollow needle is inserted into the belly area, where the doctor will remove the fluid.

A procedure similar to paracentesis, however, thoracentesis involves the doctor removing the fluid samples from the chest instead of the abdomen.

For this form of diagnosis, the medical professional inserts the hollow needle into the sac around the heart to extract fluid samples.

Endoscopic Biopsy

Also known as a camera-assisted or video biopsy, an endoscopic biopsy is what doctors use most to diagnose mesothelioma. Instead of a needle, the health provider will insert a thin, cylindric, and tube-like tool. The tube has a light and lens, or a small video camera on the end that can be used to look around the affected locations within the body.

Thoracoscopy and Mediastinoscopy

To perform a thoracoscopy, the doctor will use an endoscope called a thoracoscope to look inside the chest area. This test can also be used to look at the pleural region and take tissue samples. In addition to testing, thoracoscopy is also used as a procedure to remove excess fluid from the chest.

This is also known as pleurodesis. Pleurodesis is a procedure primarily performed as a part of palliative care treatment for malignant mesothelioma patients.

If imaging tests suggest cancer is metastasizing to the lymph nodes between the patient’s lungs, a doctor may choose to sample a small piece to analyze for a more accurate diagnosis. The testing area is a spot between the lungs, also called the mediastinum.

This procedure is also done on the operating table, where the patient is subdued with an anesthetic.

Laparoscopy/ Peritoneoscopy

Also a peritoneoscopy, a doctor will perform the laparoscopy by inserting an endoscope (primarily known as a laparoscope) inside a patient’s stomach. This is to look around and remove samples from any tumors they find.

This procedure is more invasive and done on the operating table, where the patient will get general anesthesia. After that, the doctor will create a few small incisions in the patient’s abdomen. Finally, they will then insert a laparoscope and work on removing a sample.

Open Surgical Biopsy

An endoscopic biopsy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure, however, an open surgical biopsy is more involved. First, the surgeon will make a larger incision and extract larger tissue samples. Moreover, this is the next step in a diagnosis if the endoscopic biopsy doesn’t give clear results.

Thoracotomy and Laparotomy

This procedure involves a surgeon making a small incision in the chest cavity, where they’ll insert a tube. The medical professional will proceed to retrieve the tissue sample, as well as drain excess fluids to relieve the patient’s pain and pressure.

Much like the thoracotomy, a laparotomy involves a surgeon making incisions into the abdominal cavity to analyze the area and remove a larger sample of the tumors present.

Talk to Your Doctor

An experienced mesothelioma specialist will be able to accurately determine which biopsy is best for diagnosing a veteran’s potential asbestos-related conditions. Express all your concerns to your doctor, and don’t be afraid to get a second opinion if you feel it’s necessary.