Are there other staging systems?
There are other staging systems. One called the Butchart System can be used. It is the oldest staging system for pleural mesothelioma:
Stage 1 – localized malignant mesothelioma, found in the pleura and can also be in the diaphragm.
Stage 2 – In addition to Stage 1, there may be tumor found on the other side, into the other organs in the chest, and into the chest lymph nodes.
Stage 3 – The mesothelioma has grown into the diaphragm and into the peritoneum (into the abdomen) and it may have gone to lymph nodes outside the chest.
Stage 4 – Metastatic mesothelioma spread to other parts of the body.
Another system, called the Brigham Staging system, is the newest of the three. It really approaches the cancer from the surgical point of view, so it is of limited use. Most of the time, mesotheliomas are not resectable.
Stage 1 – The mesothelioma can be removed and no lymph nodes are involved.
Stage 2 – The tumor can be removed, but the lymph nodes are involved.
Stage 3 – The tumor cannot be removed and it has penetrated the chest wall, abdominal cavity, heart, or other organs. Lymph nodes may or may not be involved.
Stage 4 – The tumor is not resectable and has metastasized to other parts of the body.