Mesothelioma: Stages

Staging
The extent of the malignant mesothelioma based on the size of the tumor and the extent of spread in the body determine the staging in mesothelioma patients. Staging helps the attending doctor to plan the clinical tests required for the patient, the projected progress of the disease and the viable line of treatment. While there are three staging systems that are used for pleural mesothelioma, there is no such staging for peritoneal mesothelioma. It is a particular stage that a mesothelioma patient is in that determines the treatment option.

Basis of Staging
Starting as a tumor, the malignant cells invade surrounding organs and tissues and then spread to distant locations, a process known as metastasis. These gradual developments in mesothelioma patients form the basis of staging. Staging system itself undergoes change as through continuous researches more information on cancer become known to the scientists. The staging systems may cover various types of cancer or only some specific types like mesothelioma. For mesothelioma the staging system most commonly adopted is the TNM where the three broad stages are primary tumor (T), regional lymph nodes (N) and the distant metastasis (M).

Elements of Staging
The elements used to determine staging in mesothelioma patients are broadly the location, number and size of the tumor(s), involvement of lymph node, cell type and grade of tumor and metastasis. Summary staging system followed by the National Cancer Institute of USA is also used that categorizes malignant mesothelioma and other types of cancer into five main types, viz. in situ, localized, regional, distant and unknown. If mesothelioma remains confined to the cells of origin, it is in situ. If it is limited to the affected organ without spread, it is localized. If the disease has spread from the original location to nearby organs or lymph nodes, it is regional and if the spread is to distant organs or lymph nodes, it is distant. If for a mesothelioma patient not enough information is there to indicate the stage, it is in unknown staging category.