Histology

Histology is the study of the cellular makeup of bodily tissue on a microscopic level. It is a branch of biology important in the diagnosis of mesothelioma cell types as well as other cancer types.

When a patient is suspected to have mesothelioma, doctors first examine the tissue or fluid sample on a microscopic level to determine if the cells are cancerous. Samples are typically taken by means of a needle biopsy or fluid extraction.

Each mesothelioma cell type has a different shape, size and appearance; however, further testing of these cells is required because they often closely resemble cells in other cancers.

Histopathological testing (the study of diseased tissues) of antibodies and other proteins is used to determine if the cells are mesothelioma. This ensures an appropriate diagnosis.

Several types of cancer closely resemble mesothelioma on a microscopic level, and pathological tests are the only way to make a conclusive diagnosis. For example, epithelioid mesothelioma is hard to differentiate from a type of cancer of the glandular tissue known as adenocarcinoma.

People who have been diagnosed with types of cancer that histologically resemble mesothelioma, such as adenocarcinoma, should be cautious. If they believe they have been exposed to asbestos in the past, a second opinion should be secured to insure their diagnosis is 100% correct.