Typically, a patient with the symptoms above will undergo diagnostic procedures such as an x-ray, CT scan and/or MRI and a tumor, mass, or build up of fluid will be discovered. Then, a biopsy of the mass or fluid will be conducted. There are a number of different methods for doing a mesothelioma biopsy: some involve removing fluid with a large needle, others involve surgery. If a tumor is biopsied, it will likely have samples removed from several different areas of it.
Once the tissue or fluid has been removed, it will be sent to a laboratory where a pathologist will examine it under a microscope and likely run other tests on it, such as immunohistochemistry. When the pathologist determines that the cells in the tumor are both epithelioid and sarcomatoid, a diagnosis of biphasic mesothelioma will be made.
Biphasic mesothelioma is typically easier to diagnose than sarcomatoid mesothelioma alone because sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells can resemble those of other cancers and cause a misdiagnosis. But when the distinctive epithelioid cells are also present, then mesothelioma is indicated.
Treatment
Treatment for biphasic mesothelioma depends on:
* Which organ or area of the body is affected
* Which stage the disease is in (how far it has spread)
* The overall condition of the patient
* The wishes of the patient and his or her family
* Other miscellaneous considerations
Treatment falls into two categories:
Curative - this term is misleading because no cure for mesothelioma currently exists. The term is used because treatments that are used for mesothelioma, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery may cure other types of cancer. One or a combination of these therapies may be used in an effort to slow the spread of biphasic mesothelioma to other organs.
New treatments for mesothelioma are in the research and clinical trial phases. These are called experimental therapies and there is hope that one day, one of them may really cure mesothelioma
Once the tissue or fluid has been removed, it will be sent to a laboratory where a pathologist will examine it under a microscope and likely run other tests on it, such as immunohistochemistry. When the pathologist determines that the cells in the tumor are both epithelioid and sarcomatoid, a diagnosis of biphasic mesothelioma will be made.
Biphasic mesothelioma is typically easier to diagnose than sarcomatoid mesothelioma alone because sarcomatoid mesothelioma cells can resemble those of other cancers and cause a misdiagnosis. But when the distinctive epithelioid cells are also present, then mesothelioma is indicated.
Treatment
Treatment for biphasic mesothelioma depends on:
* Which organ or area of the body is affected
* Which stage the disease is in (how far it has spread)
* The overall condition of the patient
* The wishes of the patient and his or her family
* Other miscellaneous considerations
Treatment falls into two categories:
Curative - this term is misleading because no cure for mesothelioma currently exists. The term is used because treatments that are used for mesothelioma, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery may cure other types of cancer. One or a combination of these therapies may be used in an effort to slow the spread of biphasic mesothelioma to other organs.
New treatments for mesothelioma are in the research and clinical trial phases. These are called experimental therapies and there is hope that one day, one of them may really cure mesothelioma
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