Cancer Information

Home Common Types of Cancers Mesothelioma Pathology and Symptoms Diagnosis & Treatment Diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma History of exposure to asbestos. X-Ray chest - Chest radiographs reveal a variable amount of fluid, with pleural thickening or pleural nodules, often several centimeters in diameter, imposing a scalloped appearance. Mediastinum shift might be visible. CT scan, MRI can detect the extent of the disease Thoracocentasis reveals malignant cells in up to 30% cases and high content of hyaluronic acid. Gallium scan Echocardiography and ECG may reveal cardiac abnormality and pericardial involvement Thoracoscopy or thoracotomy with biopsy is needed to confirm the diagnosis. Diagnosis of peritoneal mesothelioma: Direct biopsy by laparotomy or peritoneoscopy is the best diagnostic procedure. CT scan and ultra sound can be used to follow the course of the disease. Treatment: Treatment of mesothelioma is often very difficult due to its diffuse mass. Treatment modalities include- Surgical resection A combination of Radiotherapy using Iodine-125 or Iridium-192 implants and surgery Radiotherapy alone Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy Combination chemotherapy- Chemotherapy can be given either intravenously or intracavitary (chemotherapeutic agent put inside pleura or peritoneum). Doxorubicin , 5-azacytidine, cisplatin, mitomycin, 5-FU, methyl CCNU, and actinomycin  all have been used in different combinations. Biological therapy - Human recombinant IFN-a was first shown to potentiate the effect of chemotherapy. Interleukine-2 has also some beneficial effect in patients with mesothelioma. New developments - Adding pemetrexed (Alimta) to cisplatin improved survival for patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma, according to the results of a randomized phase III trial published in the July 15 2003, issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.