Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis

Pleural Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis

Not only can pleural mesothelioma be misdiagnosed as an entirely different cancer or illness, but its stages can also be misdiagnosed.

Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include shortness of breath, pain when breathing, a persistent dry and raspy cough, and fluid buildup in the lungs (pleural effusion).

These symptoms are shared with many other, more common respiratory conditions, making a pleural mesothelioma misdiagnosis a possibility for many patients.

Misdiagnosing Pleural Mesothelioma Stage

If a doctor misdiagnoses a pleural mesothelioma stage as more or less advanced than it really is, patients may not be able to receive the most effective mesothelioma treatment options.

For example, life-extending mesothelioma surgery is usually restricted to early-stage patients. An accurate stage diagnosis can mean the difference between a life expectancy of months or years.

Peritoneal Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis

The symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma include pain in the abdomen, swelling, and nausea — the same symptoms caused by ovarian cancer and other abdominal conditions.

“I went back to have another X-ray and another CT scan, and they also drew blood to do blood workup to make sure that it was [peritoneal] mesothelioma because they said it could be that, or I could have Crohn’s disease.”

– Brenda W., Peritoneal Mesothelioma Patient

Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis of Rare Types

Pericardial mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the heart) and testicular mesothelioma (cancer of the lining of the testes) are two of the rarest forms of this cancer, with both types making up around 1% of all mesothelioma cases each year.

This extreme rarity makes them even easier to misdiagnose than other mesothelioma types.

Pericardial Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis

Pericardial mesothelioma symptoms include chest pain, coughing, and difficulty breathing, which are often mistaken for other heart and lung issues. Most cases of pericardial mesothelioma are only properly diagnosed after surgery for the misdiagnosed disease or an autopsy.

Testicular Mesothelioma Misdiagnosis

Testicular mesothelioma can present as swelling in the scrotum (hydrocele), which is often a mild condition rarely caused by cancer. For this reason, doctors may not think to test patients with this symptom for any kind of cancer.

Misdiagnosing Mesothelioma Cell Type

In addition to a misdiagnosis of mesothelioma type/location, doctors may also misdiagnose mesothelioma cell types, which are classified as epithelioid, sarcomatoid, or mixed/biphasic. This misdiagnosis can influence a patient’s prognosis and treatment options.

Patients with epithelioid mesothelioma cells usually have the most treatment options, so a misdiagnosis could mean fewer curative treatment options.

Similarly, if a patient with sarcomatoid mesothelioma is wrongly diagnosed, they could be put through a rigorous treatment schedule that’s ineffective.

In the case of biphasic mesothelioma (combination of epithelial and sarcomatoid cells), pathologists may diagnose it as purely one cell type, or they may misdiagnose the ratio of cells.

Getting the Right Mesothelioma Diagnosis

You can lower your risk of a mesothelioma misdiagnosis by getting a second opinion from a mesothelioma specialist. These doctors possess a deep knowledge of mesothelioma symptoms, staging, and cell types that general oncologists may lack.

Visit a Mesothelioma Specialist

If you or your loved one has a history of asbestos exposure and is experiencing mesothelioma symptoms, get examined by a doctor who specializes in diagnosing mesothelioma.

Veterans can contact top mesothelioma specialists like Dr. Robert B. Cameron and Dr. Abraham “Avi” Lebenthal through the U.S Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Health Care System.

How Specialists Diagnose Mesothelioma

1

Physical Exam

To diagnose mesothelioma, a mesothelioma specialist begins by performing a physical exam, looking for symptoms that may help rule out other conditions.

2

Imaging Tests

Imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs may be ordered to identify any abnormalities or tumors associated with mesothelioma.

3

Biopsy

Doctors can acquire tissue samples from a suspected tumor through a biopsy. They then send the biopsy samples to a lab to look for mesothelioma cells.

A biopsy is the only way to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Connect With a Mesothelioma Doctor

A misdiagnosis of mesothelioma can cost patients precious time that they may have been able to use to receive life-extending treatment. The best way to avoid misdiagnosis is to get tested by a mesothelioma specialist.

Experienced mesothelioma doctors practice across the United States, but finding a local expert may be difficult because mesothelioma is so rare.

Call us today at (877) 450-8973 for help finding a mesothelioma doctor near you.