One of the many forms of personal injury is mesothelioma, which is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure can result in a very tricky medical situation—diseases such as asbestosis and mesothelioma cancer may not show symptoms for 30 to 50 years after the initial exposure. In addition, asbestos particles can be found from a variety of sources, ranging from old household materials to automotive parts.
Mesothelioma cancer, which is just one of the potential diseases caused by asbestos exposure, is a relatively rare yet serious form of cancer. If a patient or doctor believes that there is a case of mesothelioma cancer, then the following explains how the cancer might be diagnosed:
1. Physical Exam
If the patient shows symptoms of either pleural or peritoneal mesothelioma cancer, a doctor will administer a physical exam and check your medical history. In addition to basic blood tests, fluid in the abdomen may lead the doctor to suspect mesothelioma cancer.
2. Image Scans
When diagnosing patients for mesothelioma cancer, a variety of image scans will be utilized. Here are some which may be used:
o An x-ray image of the chest may help the doctor diagnose pleural mesothelioma—signs such as plaque or fluid surrounding the lungs.
o Computed tomography, or CT, scans may be used to develop a model of the patient’s lungs. CT scans are used to locate the cancer, as well as help determine what stage the cancer is in.
o A PET (Positron emission tomography) scan focuses on areas of the body that show the highest amount of radioactivity. Although it may not offer the most detailed image, it can let the doctor know if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body.
3. Scopy
After imaging, the doctor can either administer a thorascopy or a peritoneoscopy. Both methods involve incisions in the chest and can help the doctor pinpoint the location of the cancerous cells.
If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with the personal injury mesothelioma, then please get in touch with Slater, Slater, Rosenberger & Schulman, P.C. If you have been exposed to asbestos, our mesothelioma lawyers can represent you and provide justice.
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The Slater Firm – Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Lawyers