Diagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma with CT Imaging
A combination of CT imaging and medical history may soon provide an alternate way to diagnose pleural mesothelioma. A team of French and Canadian researchers at Laval University in Quebec assessed the use of medical history and imaging features in patients with pleural thickening around the lungs.
The combination of imaging features and a patient’s history of asbestos exposure may provide enough information for an accurate Pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. Pleural mesothelioma is a cancer that affects the lining of the lungs, called the pleura. It’s the most common site of mesothelioma and often challenging to find.
Pleural Mesothelioma Before Diagnosis
Once a patient begins to show symptoms, doctors typically start the diagnostic process with a physical exam. The doctor collects a thorough medical history – including factors like exposure to asbestos, which is the main cause of mesothelioma.
If an oncologist suspects a patient may have mesothelioma, she may order imaging tests, like X-rays or CT scans, to test for the presence of fluid buildup around the lungs, called a pleural effusion. If the fluid is present in the chest cavity, the patient will undergo a pleural biopsy, where fluid or tissue is extracted and tested by a pathologist for malignant cells.
Biopsies also determine what type of mesothelioma cells are present: epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or a combination, called biphasic. Determining the cell type helps oncologists determine treatment options. Typically, a biopsy is the standard test for accurately diagnosing pleural mesothelioma. However, some patients are not fit to undergo biopsy procedures.
The Mesothelioma CT Imaging Study
The study objective was to determine if the utility of medical history and imaging features is an effective way to diagnose pleural mesothelioma. Researchers analyzed 92 Malignant Pleural Effusion (MPE) patients. Doctors reviewed each patient’s imaging scans and medical charts and compared imaging features in those with primary MPE vs. secondary MPE.
Primary MPE subjects had mesothelioma, while secondary MPE subjects had other forms of cancer, like breast cancer or lung cancer. The researchers evaluated the diagnostic value of medical history and imaging features in MPE subjects and found pleural mesothelioma patients shared several common characteristics: they are male, exposed to asbestos, and experienced mediastinal, diaphragmatic, and circumferential pleural thickening.
Exposure to asbestos and circumferential pleural thickening showed a significant association with a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. Researchers concluded the combination of circumferential pleural thickening and a history of asbestos exposure may be sufficient to make a clinical MPM diagnosis.
Future Pleural Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Advancements in imaging technology, such as high-resolution MRI and PET scans, show promise in enhancing the accuracy of pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. These techniques can provide detailed images of the pleura, enabling clinicians to detect early signs of the disease and differentiate it from other respiratory conditions.
Additionally, emerging molecular biomarkers, which analyze specific genetic and protein abnormalities associated with mesothelioma, can improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce the need for invasive procedures. As research continues to unfold, a multidisciplinary approach combining clinical evaluation, imaging advancements, and biomarker analysis is anticipated to revolutionize the future diagnosis of pleural mesothelioma, ensuring earlier detection and improved patient outcomes.
Last updated on July 12th, 2023 at 04:39 pm