Determination of the extent of cancer
Once the diagnosis of mesothelioma is confirmed, the doctor orders additional tests to determine whether the cancer has spread to other parts of your body or lymph nodes. Because not every patient requires every screening test, it is up to the physician to determine which test is appropriate for a patient. After gathering information from screening tests, the doctor assigns the type and stage of mesothelioma cancer to each individual patient. The four phases of mesothelioma cancer are indicated by the roman numerals. Stage one mesothelioma indicates that the cancer cells are confined to the lungs, whereas stage four indicates that the cancer has spread to other body regions. With the advancement of new studies, the staging system for mesothelioma is advancing, thereby enhancing patient treatment plans. Among the additional diagnostic tests are:
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
CT scans of the abdomen and thorax are performed.
PET scans use positron emission technologies
