Physical Examination & Medical History

The physician will start by obtaining the patient’s medical history, symptoms, and risk factors—particularly any history of asbestos exposure. Many times, a patient who was exposed only briefly to asbestos many years ago will think it unnecessary to mention. Yet even brief exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma, so the patient should discuss any history that involved exposure to asbestos. This includes having had a family member who worked with asbestos as well as having lived or worked near a facility where asbestos-containing ore was mined or milled or asbestos-containing products were manufactured.

A physical exam will also be performed to give the physician information that suggests the presence of mesothelioma or other health problems. For example, a patient with pleural mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the chest) often has fluid in the chest cavity, called a pleural effusion. In cases of peritoneal mesothelioma, patients may experience fluid in the abdominal cavity (ascites). For pericardial mesothelioma (mesothelioma of the lining of the heart), fluid in the pericardium is common. All these conditions might be discovered during a physical exam.

A complete physical examination will also include a lung function test. Such testing is used to diagnose a variety of lung diseases and to measure the severity of any lung problem.