Laparoscopy of the Abdomen for Mesothelioma Diagnosis

Laparoscopy of the Abdomen for Mesothelioma Diagnosis

A laparoscopy will be conducted if the suspicous area is in the abdomen. During a laparoscopy, a doctor will insert a special instrument into the abdominal cavity via a small cut. More extensive surgery may be necessary if a laparoscopy procedure can not produce enough tissue for analysis.

Positive or Suspicious Cytology

During the diagnosis process, if the cytology is positive or suspicious, a biopsy will be needed to determine if mesothelioma is present. A pathologist will examine a sample of tissue (that has been removed by a doctor) under microscope. Depending on where the suspicious area is located, a biopsy may be done in different ways. During a thoracoscopy of the chest, the doctor makes a small incision through the chest wall and will put a narrow, lighted tube called a thoracoscope into the chest between the ribs. A thoracoscopy will allow the doctor to see inside the chest and obtain tissue samples.