Non-Surgical/Fluid Biopsies for Mesothelioma
Posted on: December 17, 2023 *Updated on: May 25, 2024Non-surgical biopsies for mesothelioma involve the extraction of fluid samples from the vicinity of the lungs or abdomen using a needle. These samples may contain cancerous cells, providing crucial evidence for diagnosing mesothelioma.
Upon completing the biopsy procedure, the extracted fluid sample is sent to a pathologist for cytology testing. While this method is less invasive than surgical biopsies, it is not as conclusive.
Fluid samples have a higher chance of yielding inconclusive or misleading results for cytologists due to their limited cell content. There are three types of non-surgical or needle biopsies for mesothelioma, each targeting a specific area of the body.