Tissue Biopsy

Diagnostic Testing for Mesothelioma

A tissue biopsy is one of the most common types of diagnostic testing, particularly for confirming or ruling out a cancer diagnosis. A biopsy involves removing some tissue from your body to be examined in a laboratory. There are several different types and methods of biopsies that your doctor might use if you are concerned about mesothelioma.

Types of Biopsies

There are three major types of biopsies that physicians can use to examine your tissue samples and make a diagnosis:

1. Needle Biopsy 
With a needle biopsy, some of your tissue is removed through a syringe. The syringe will target the area of concern (so for pleural mesothelioma, the syringe would target the area around your lungs). Physicians use x-ray imaging or CT scans to guide their needle to the appropriate area.

2. Open Biopsy 
With an open biopsy, your surgeon will put you under general anesthesia so you don’t feel any pain and will not be awake during the procedure. The doctor will cut open the affected area and remove tissue.

3. Closed Biopsy 
The advantage of a closed biopsy is that there is minimal recovery time due to a very small incision. Through this small incision, the surgeon inserts a camera scope to guide the instrument that will take a tissue sample from the affected area.

Contacting Worthington & Caron, PC

We invite you to contact the asbestos lawyers at Worthington & Caron, PC if you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with the asbestos cancer mesothelioma. 

Our connection to top mesothelioma physicians can even help you get a second or third opinion to confirm or rule out mesothelioma as a possibility. To learn more, get in touch with us today.