Chest X-Rays
A chest x-ray may reveal unusual thickening of the pleura, calcium deposits on the pleura, and whether fluid has accumulated in the pleural space (referred to as a pleural effusion) or in the abdomen (referred to as ascites). These findings are consistent with the development of mesothelioma.
A chest x-ray might also show evidence of lung scarring or pleural plaques that could mean the patient has asbestosis—a separate and distinct, nonmalignant asbestos-related disease.