What kinds of tests might the doctor order to see if I have mesothelioma?
X-rays, CT scans and MRI scans are the most useful tests at the beginning, trying to decide what your diagnosis is. Pleural mesothelioma is easier to diagnose then peritoneal mesothelioma.
Your doctor will probably order a set of blood tests to see how the systems in your body are working. You could have a low blood count because of the tumor. Other areas of the body could be affected. With a pleural mesothelioma, if your doctor does tests to check you lung function, they will probably be abnormal. With abdominal mesothelioma, your doctor might find evidence of problems in your liver or kidneys because the tumor is near them. All of this information can be helpful but will not make the diagnosis.
The most important thing is for the scans to give the doctor an idea of where to go to take a sample of tissue for a biopsy.