Brigham System

The Brigham System is the most modern of the three malignant mesothelioma staging systems. The Brigham System looks at different variables such as the involvement of the lymph nodes and the surgical ability to remove a malignant mesothelioma tumor (respectability). For this reason, it is not used very often to stage mesothelioma, as the cancer is rarely operable. The Brigham System divides malignant mesothelioma into four stages:

* Stage 1 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is still resectable (able to be removed surgically) and the lymph nodes are not affected.
* Stage 2 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is still resectable, but the lymph nodes are now affected.
* Stage 3 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is not resectable and the malignant mesothelioma has penetrated the heart, chest wall, abdominal cavity or diaphragm. Lymph nodes may or may not be affected.
* Stage 4 - Malignant mesothelioma tumor is not resectable and has completely metastasized (spread throughout the body).