How Doctors Test for Mesothelioma

The first test for a patient with, symptoms related to mesothelioma will be going to their primary doctor, getting an x-ray or a CAT scan done. Based on the results from that, they may go through further testing such as a thoracentesis or paracentesis, which is where they drain fluid, whether it's from the lining of the lungs or the peritoneal area, which is the abdominal area. The next step would be for a biopsy. The biopsy is a step where they confirm the diagnosis. This sample is sent to a pathologist who ultimately tests the sample taken out from the tumor and identifies it as mesothelioma.