Though patients suspected of having mesothelioma may believe that treatment will start as soon as the illness is identified, confirmation of the disease sets off a new set of processes, the most important of which may be staging. Doctors must determine how far the disease has progressed to create the best possible treatment plan to suit the patient’s condition and goals. A recent evaluation of the existing staging process has confirmed that the most recent revision to the staging process remains valid.
International Database Informs Mesothelioma Staging System
Staging pleural mesothelioma is a complex process that involves multiple diagnostic tests beyond those that confirm the presence of the disease. Patients are assessed using the TNM classification system which gauges the location and size of the primary tumor site (T); whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes (N); and whether the cancer is localized or has spread to distant areas of the body (M). This information informs the selection of treatment protocols.
Because mesothelioma treatments are evolving, the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer must constantly analyze the existing staging categories to assess whether they are still applicable or need to be revised. Researchers from the organization recently analyzed the existing clinical and pathologic categories they’ve been using, testing them against changing therapies to see whether they still apply.
Ninth Data Set for Mesothelioma Staging Remains the Same
The assessment of the mesothelioma staging system measured overall survival from the date of diagnosis for 3,598 pleural mesothelioma patients diagnosed from 2013 to 2022. The researchers found that the existing categories published in the eighth edition of the TNM Classification for Pleural Mesothelioma performed adequately, corroborating the appropriateness of the previously established guidelines. No changes will be made for the ninth edition.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma, getting state-of-the-art, well-informed treatment is the key to longer survival. For help accessing these resources, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
