Mesothelioma biopsy is a procedure by which a small tissue sample is removed from a patient. This tissue sample is than put through a biopsy examination so that doctors and physicians can determine what kind of mesothelioma treatment to use against the disease.
Mesothelioma biopsy is usually done with the help of thoracoscopy surgery because this kind of procedure allows for a faster and safer recovery. Also, thoracoscopy provides with just the right amount of tissue that pathologists need to study.
Mesothelioma biopsy results
Results of a biopsy are quick and most of the time, they are also very precise. The tissue removed from the patients’ body is studied under a microscope. The tissue is exposed to different chemicals, and the one that yields the best reaction will be used as a chemotherapy treatment drug. This is the main goal of a biopsy.
Mesothelioma biopsy types
There are two types of mesothelioma biopsy:
- Excisional biopsy – an entire lump or area of abnormal tissue is removed
- Incisional biopsy – the normal biopsy method, just a small sample of tissue is removed.
Doctors will only use a needle to extract tissue samples in order to harm the patient as little as possible, but still be able to extract a large enough sample. This method is called needle aspiration biopsy; the needle is inserted through a very small incision in the chest or abdomen area. The needle is attached to a suction machine and it will absorb only the necessary quantity of tissue.
Diagnosing mesothelioma is usually a very difficult procedure, because the initial symptoms are not specific to mesothelioma alone, they are found in many other conditions. Because of that, a biopsy is needed so that the tissue is carefully studied, and the diagnosis is set correctly.
A biopsy can be performed at a doctors’ office or in a specializedmesothelioma cancer center. It is usually done during a procedure that has multiple purposes, like thoracoscopy or thoracotomy, so that it won’t need a separate surgical intervention.
Costs involved are insignificant, because of the fact that most of the times a separate surgical procedure is not needed.
Be sure to ask your doctor about the outcome or result of the biopsy, and also make sure that you fully understand them before deciding to start any kind of mesothelioma treatment.
Need to know more about biopsies and what they are for? Contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers, absolutely free.