Many physicians will never see a patient with malignant mesothelioma. The asbestos-related form of cancer only appears in approximately 3,000 Americans per year, and both its rareness and the similarity of its symptoms to other illnesses make diagnosis a challenge. A recent study shows that the malignancy can be misdiagnosed when the proper tools aren’t used, and particularly when cytology is the only test used.
Cytology of Ascites from Peritoneal Mesothelioma Insufficient for Diagnosis
Mesothelioma can appear in different parts of the body. When it appears in the abdominal region it is referred to as peritoneal mesothelioma, and one of the earliest symptoms is an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen known as ascites.
Though ascites are frequently tested using cytology to detect malignancy, they are not able to pinpoint the specific elements necessary to diagnose mesothelioma. This means that when physicians rely on cytology alone, they may misdiagnose the patient’s condition, losing valuable treatment time.
Indian Physicians Document Failure of Cytology Alone in Mesothelioma Diagnosis
In a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Cytopathology, Indian researchers reported on multiple cases of patients presenting with fluid in their abdomen and undergoing cytology testing of the fluid. Though malignant cells were identified, the physicians did not initially move beyond this test. Two of the patients were misdiagnosed with adenocarcinoma and a third was misdiagnosed with neuroendocrine cancer or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Correct diagnosis did not come until tumor samples were evaluated.
Commenting on their findings, lead researcher Navita Gupta wrote, “In such clinical scenarios, with radiology suggesting peritoneal carcinomatosis, the cytologic features need corroboration by IHC/fluorescence in situ hybridization on cell block or biopsy to correctly identify malignant mesothelioma and differentiate it from metastatic carcinomatous deposits and benign mesothelial proliferation.”
Effective treatment of malignant mesothelioma relies on accurate and fast diagnosis. For more information on dealing with this challenging condition, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
