Any disease has got some differential diagnoses. It means that there can be more than one diseases those have similar-looking symptoms. This similarity often creates confusion and the doctors may misdiagnose a case. Especially in case of dreaded cancer mesothelioma, many doctors misdiagnose the condition for mere pneumonia or bronchitis because the symptoms match those of these conditions. There is cough, chest pain, wheezing, and breathlessness. However, when investigated thoroughly with imaging techniques like CT scan and MRI scan; doctors come to know about this cancer. Biopsy of the lung tissue however confirms the diagnosis.
That’s why it is stated that when there is history of asbestos exposure, doctors must stress for the advanced investigations in the cases complaining of unresolved cough and breathlessness. Depending upon the area of involvement assessed with CT scan, the doctor may perform fine needle aspiration, thoracoscopy, thoracotomy or laparoscopy to do biopsy of the tissue to confirm diagnosis.
Only after perfect diagnosis, staging of the mesothelioma cancer can be done. Staging of the cancer is done depending upon the area of involvement and spread to distant organs and lymph nodes. Certainly quicker diagnosis enables physician to take quick steps to eradicate the cancer to the extent possible. Those patients have a better prognosis these days if diagnosed at early stages and treated appropriately. Along wth the conventional cancer treatments, some doctors believe in certain clinical trials to be instituted upon these patients for desirable results! After consulting with the patient, his family, and other experts’ opinions, the final treatment plan is sketched!