WiredPRNews.com —Press Release Distribution — An international panel of pathologists released a statement on the guidelines for pathological diagnosis of diffuse malignant mesothelioma. The primary recommendation was antibody tests should be performed and are crucial to distinguishing mesothelioma from other cancer types.
The panel, which included 16 pathologists from the International Mesothelioma Interest Group, assembled with the goal to provide guidelines to pathologists who do not have broad experience in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. The project began when oncologists at the University of Chicago learned there were pathologists who did not see mesothelioma cases on a regular basis, making it difficult for them to stay abreast of the large amount of information, particularly with regard to using antibodies.
Antibody markers, which are used in immunohistochemical (IHC) stains, are some of the most sensitive lab tests for determining mesothelioma and other types of cancer. The lab that receives the tissue samples will use a panel of antibodies and compare it to the staining pattern of mesothelioma, which is different than other tumors resembling mesothelioma.
While the guidelines assess the usefulness of various antibodies, they do not recommend a specific number or type to be used. There is not a single panel in existence that is ideal of diagnosing all mesothelioma cancers. The guidelines do emphasize that each lab develop its own standardized set of antibodies to develop a panel that will work based on the types of tumors tested. Other factors to be considered include:
Clinical features
Tumor location
Tumor characteristics
Lab’s experience
The guidelines also recommend that labs choose antibodies that are at least 80% sensitive, and all tests have controls in place to compare the results.
Receiving a quick and accurate diagnosis is critical to receive the best mesothelioma treatment. You will want to make sure that your doctor is well-versed in the treatment and care of mesothelioma. For more information, check out our mesothelioma treatment pages, or contact one of our mesothelioma family advocates at Mesothelioma Family Resource Center, http:www.mesothelioma.net or contact us at 1-877-273-4498.
