When a pleural biopsy is indeterminate, mesothelioma can be difficult to distinguish from other cancers and noncancerous pleural conditions. The next step may involve reviewing the pathology by a specialist, obtaining additional tissue when clinically appropriate, and using a panel of immunohistochemical markers rather than relying on a single test.
Imaging such as CT or PET scans can help characterize pleural abnormalities and determine the extent of disease, but imaging alone generally cannot confirm mesothelioma. A history of asbestos exposure may increase clinical suspicion, although it does not establish the diagnosis.
Because mesothelioma is rare and diagnosis can be complex, patients with an unclear result may benefit from evaluation at a medical center with experience in mesothelioma and thoracic pathology.
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