Process of Staging Malignant Mesothelioma

When mesothelioma is diagnosed by a physician or specialist, they must determine the extent of the cancer and how far it has spread. Most often, they will use imaging procedures to see inside the chest or abdomen to help determine the staging of the malignant mesothelioma. The imaging options physicians may use include:

* Chest x-ray
* CT scan of the chest and/or abdomen
* MRI scan of the chest and/or abdomen
* PET scan of the chest and/or abdomen

Once the doctor is able to determine the stage of the mesothelioma, they will be able to formulate a plan for treatment and provide a prognosis.

Sources:

1. Dodson, R. and Hammar, S. Asbestos: Risk Assessment, Epidemiology, and Health Effects. Taylor & Francis: Boca Raton. 2006.
2. Galateau-Salle, Francoise. Pathology of Malignant Mesothelioma. Springer-Verlag London Limited: London. 2006.
3. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/mesothelioma/DS00779