Other Tests

Thoracoscopy and peritoneoscopy

The doctor may look inside your chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope. Before the thoracoscopy test, you will be given a local anesthetic to numb your chest for a short period of time. A cut will be made through the chest wall and the thoracoscope will be inserted into your chest, between two ribs. During the examination, a small piece of tissue (biopsy) may be removed for examination under a microscope. You may feel some pressure, but usually there is no pain.

Another special tool is the peritoneoscope, which the doctor may use to look inside your abdomen. As with thoracoscopy, a local anesthetic is given first, and the peritoneoscope is inserted into an opening made in the abdomen. A biopsy specimen also may be taken during the procedure.

Thoracocentesis and paracentesis

If fluid has collected in your chest or abdomen, your doctor may drain the fluid out by putting a needle into the area and using gentle suction to remove the fluid. Removal of chest fluid for diagnosis or for therapy is called thoracentesis. Removal of abdominal fluid is called paracentesis.

Fluid and tissue removed by these procedures is then examined under a microscope. If the cells appear to be malignant, a diagnosis of mesothelioma may be made.

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.