Exposure to asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos is a mineral
commonly used as an insulator and binding agent in industrial, commercial, and
residential products and equipment. Though the dangers of asbestos exposure and the
resulting asbestos-related diseases like asbestosis have been documented for more
than a century, products containing asbestos were in common usage until the early
1980s and can be found in many homes and structures today.
Diagnosis of Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma has an unusually long latency period, which means that patients may
not be diagnosed with the disease for as long as 5 decades after they were last
exposed to asbestos. After careful evaluation, a variety of tests are necessary to
correctly diagnose mesothelioma. Some of these clinical and radiological tests include
a complete physical examination, including the patient’s medical history and history of
asbestos exposure, x-rays, lung function tests, CT scan, MRI, and sometimes a tissue
or fluid biopsy.