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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