Screening Methods to Identify Asbestos-Related Disease

After a preliminary physical examination, the doctor may need to look inside your chest cavity with a thorascope; during this thoracoscopy procedure, a cut will be made in your chest and a small piece of tissue (biopsy) may removed for examination. While you may feel some pressure, there is usually no pain.

Another special tool that may be used is the peritoneoscope, which allows for examination inside your abdomen. This instrument is inserted into an opening made in the abdomen, and a biopsy specimen may also be taken.

If the presence of fluid is indicated by either of these procedures, the doctor may drain it by inserting a needle into the affected areaa. Removal of chest fluid is called thoracentesis; removal of abdominal fluid is call paracentesis.

Other screening methods to detect asbestos-related disease include various imaging tests. In addition to X-rays, methods include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET). A more recent and promising screening method is the computed tomography (CT) scan.