Mesothelioma Symptoms & Diagnosis

What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

Symptoms of mesothelioma are common in many lung conditions, so it often is not diagnosed until it has spread. Sometimes it is misdiagnosed as lung cancer. Symptoms may include:

Shortness of breath
Chest or abdominal pain
Fatigue
Collapse of lung
Chronic cough
Weight loss
Blood in sputum
Difficulty swallowing
Chronic hoarseness

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

If you have symptoms of mesothelioma, we’ll give you a physical exam and talk to you about your family history and possible exposure to asbestos. Tests for mesothelioma can include:

Needle biopsy or pleural aspiration to collect lung fluid
A lung function test
Imaging tests, such as a chest X-ray, computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan, positive emission tomography (PET) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), for detailed images of the lungs and other parts of the body
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgical biopsy (VATS), using a tiny tube with a camera on the end to obtain lung tissue for biopsy

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What are the symptoms of mesothelioma?

How is mesothelioma diagnosed?

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