April 22, 2014 – Diagnosing a patient with mesothelioma can be difficult for physicians. Many of the symptoms of this disease do not necessarily spell out “mesothelioma” for most physicians. One such symptom is fluid buildup around the lungs (also called pleural effusion). If a patient is showing signs of fluid buildup and mesothelioma is suspected, however, physicians have routinely relied on inpatient thoracic surgery (opening of the chest) to confirm their diagnosis. Thanks to new research by physicians at the Mayo Clinic, this intrusive method of mesothelioma diagnosis may soon be a thing of the past.
Thoracoscopy is an alternative procedure for diagnosing mesothelioma that involves the use of a special camera to examine a patient’s chest cavity. Thoracoscopy does not require the opening of a patient’s chest cavity. The advantages of a thoracoscopy are many. Thoracoscopy is a much simpler procedure that does not require an inpatient hospital stay. The procedure is less invasive and less taxing on the patient’s body. The researchers also found that complications associated with thoracic surgery, including infections, heart problems and breathing issues, were not risk factors for a thoracoscopy.
The results of the Mayo Clinic study, which involved 51 patients, were recently published in the medical journal Chest. Researchers are hopeful that thoracoscopy will be the wave of the future with respect to mesothelioma diagnosis.
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers at the Shein Law Provide Quality Legal Representation to Mesothelioma Victims
If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos and has now developed symptoms of mesothelioma, compensation may be available to assist with past and future medical costs, loss of earnings and rehabilitation costs. The experienced New Jersey mesothelioma attorneys at Shein Law have over thirty years of experience handling all types of asbestos-related claims. Our offices are conveniently located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Pennsauken, New Jersey to serve victims of asbestos exposure throughout the region. To schedule a free confidential consultation, call Shein Law today at 1-877-SHEINLAW (743-4652) or contact us online. Our lawyers will meet with you at a location convenient to you and your family.