Mesothelioma Therapy Types and Staging of Mesothelioma 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which imaging test is most commonly used for initial diagnosis and staging of pleural mesothelioma?
- MRI
- PET scan
- CT scan (Correct answer)
- X-ray
Correct answer: CT scan
CT scans are the most commonly used imaging tool for initial diagnosis and staging of pleural mesothelioma due to their detail and accessibility.
Question 2: What does 'sarcomatoid' mesothelioma mean in terms of prognosis?
- Better prognosis than epithelioid
- Similar prognosis to epithelioid
- Worse prognosis than epithelioid (Correct answer)
- Unrelated to prognosis
Correct answer: Worse prognosis than epithelioid
Sarcomatoid mesothelioma has the worst prognosis of the three cell types due to its resistance to standard treatments.
Question 3: Peritoneal mesothelioma affects which part of the body?
- Lining of the lungs
- Lining of the abdomen (Correct answer)
- Lining of the heart
- Lining of the testes
Correct answer: Lining of the abdomen
Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the peritoneum, which is the lining of the abdominal cavity.
Question 4: Which biomarker is most commonly elevated in mesothelioma patients?
- AFP
- CA-125
- Mesothelin (Correct answer)
- PSA
Correct answer: Mesothelin
Mesothelin is the most commonly used serum biomarker for mesothelioma, aiding in diagnosis and monitoring.
Question 5: Stage IV mesothelioma is characterized by which feature?
- Cancer confined to the pleura
- Cancer in regional lymph nodes only
- Cancer spread to distant organs or tissues (Correct answer)
- No lymph node involvement
Correct answer: Cancer spread to distant organs or tissues
Stage IV mesothelioma indicates distant metastasis, meaning the cancer has spread to organs or tissues far from its origin.
Question 6: Which occupational group historically had the highest risk of mesothelioma in the US?
- Coal miners
- Shipyard workers (Correct answer)
- Construction electricians
- Textile workers
Correct answer: Shipyard workers
Shipyard workers had the highest historical exposure to asbestos in the US, as the material was extensively used in ship construction.
Which imaging test is most commonly used for initial diagnosis and staging of pleural mesothelioma?