Screening

There is no universally agreed protocol for screening people who have been exposed to asbestos. Screening tests might diagnose mesothelioma earlier than conventional methods thus improving the survival prospects for patients. The serum osteopontin level might be useful in screening asbestos-exposed people for mesothelioma. The level of soluble mesothelin-related protein is elevated in the serum of about 75% of patients at diagnosis and it has been suggested that it may be useful for screening.^[25] Doctors have begun testing the Mesomark assaywhich measures levels of soluble mesothelin-related proteins (SMRPs) released by diseased mesothelioma cells.^[26]m\

CXR demonstrating a mesothelioma

CT scan of a patient with mesothelioma,coronal section (the section follows the plane that divides the body in a front and a back half). The mesothelioma is indicated by yellow arrows, the central pleural effusion(fluid collection) is marked with a yellow star. Red numbers: (1) right lung, (2) spine, (3) left lung, (4) ribs, (5) descending part of the aorta, (6) spleen, (7) left kidney, (8) right kidney, (9) liver.

Micrograph of a pleural fluidcytopathology specimen showing mesothelioma.

Micrographs showing mesothelioma in a core biopsy.

Image of Metastatic mesothelioma

Diffuse pleural mesothelioma with extensive involvement of the pericardium.