Mesothelioma Biopsy Types

Currently, a tissue or fluid biopsy is the only way to ensure a patient receives an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis. During a biopsy, cells are removed from the patient’s body and analyzed to determine whether or not cancer is present and to provide a definitive diagnosis. If the disease is found, a biopsy can help an oncologist stage the disease, estimate a mesothelioma patient’s prognosis and lay the groundwork for a comprehensive treatment plan.

There are three primary types of biopsies: needle biopsies, minimally invasive and surgical. The goal of each type of biopsy is to gather enough tissue, fluid or cells to determine whether cancerous cells are present and how far the disease has progressed. In most cases, biopsies are performed following blood tests and imaging tests to confirm a diagnosis.

Needle Biopsies

Needle biopsies are performed using a small- or large-bore hollow needle to draw a fluid or tissue sample from around the organs, including the lungs, abdomen, and heart. Whether fluid is drawn or tissue is sampled, it is then tested by a pathologist to determine if mesothelioma cells are present. These procedures may also be done as a form of palliative care to relieve pain, reduce fluid buildup and help patients breathe more efficiently. Generally speaking, biopsies to obtain tissue, rather than fluid, are more effective in determining whether or not a patient has mesothelioma.

Needle biopsies require only a local anesthesia to numb the skin prior to the procedure. Unfortunately, needle biopsies don’t always provide an accurate diagnosis because they can only collect small amounts of tissue for testing.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Biopsies

When a patient undergoes a minimally invasive biopsy, the surgeon will make a small incision in the body to insert a camera. Using a camera like an endoscope, they can examine the area where the incision is made and take tissue samples for further analysis. These biopsies are typically done under general anesthesia.

There are three types of endoscopic biopsies used to confirm a mesothelioma diagnosis.

Other procedures may also take place during an endoscopic biopsy. For example, during a thoracoscopy, a pleurodesis may be performed. The surgical procedure removes pleural effusion, or excess fluid in the lungs, and a medication is delivered into the chest cavity to prevent the fluid from coming back.

Open Surgical Biopsies

A patient may rarely require an open surgical biopsy when other tests have been unable to definitively determine whether malignant mesothelioma is present. In situations where an open surgical biopsy is called for, the surgeon makes a large incision in the body, gaining full access to the chest or abdominal cavity. Biopsies of this type are done under general anesthesia and recovery time can take several weeks.

Depending on where the biopsy needs to be taken from, different forms of surgery are recommended. A laparotomy is used to examine the abdomen for tumors and can help a specialist diagnose cases of peritoneal mesothelioma. Thoracotomies, which take place in the chest, are used to diagnose pericardial mesothelioma or pleural mesothelioma.

What Happens After the Biopsy?

Once the tissue or fluid sample has been collected, it is sent to a lab for testing to determine if mesothelioma cancer is present. A pathologist first does a gross examination of the sample and records their findings, then the samples are prepared for analysis. This is done by concentrating the cells found in a fluid sample or by getting tissue samples placed on glass slides. Pathologists use cytology and histology to determine cell type and whether or not mesothelioma cells are in the provided sample.

Once the tests are complete, the lab will maintain these samples for future reference. This is important for patients seeking a second opinion or in instances of cancer recurrence. According to the American Cancer Society, labs must hold onto biopsy samples for several years to stay compliant with federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA). Some states have additional laws requiring samples be held even longer than federal guidelines mandate.

If a patient is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a specialist will develop a personalized treatment plan based on the individual’s case. If the cancer is diagnosed at an earlier stage, patients typically have a number of potentially curative treatments, like surgery, available to them. However, a late-stage diagnosis may provide only palliative care options.