If a list of such diseases that are extremely difficult to diagnose is prepared, mesothelioma will figure in the list with prominence. The reason is that almost identical symptoms are found in case of a number of other diseases. Therefore you require making a detailed review of the past medical history of the patient. In addition you have to take up thorough physical examination that includes X-Ray, scanning or other advanced medical systems.

These are not all. You also require a biopsy in order to confirm that the disease is mesothelioma. A sample tissue is removed from the body of the patient and verified minutely under the microscope. There are various methodologies that are adopted for biopsy.

For example you may undergo thoracoscopy where the physician will make a small cut on the chest wall inserting a thin and lighted tube between a pair of ribs. In this manner the doctor will look inside the chest and collect the sample tissues for mesothelioma diagnosis.

Similarly if you are suffering from abdominal mesothelioma then the doctor will perform a peritoneoscopy to find out tissues for examination. The process is just like the thoracoscopy and here the doctor will create a small opening in the abdomen of the patient and insert an instrument named peritoneoscope in that opening to get tissues for diagnosis. However if either of the process does not yield sufficient tissues for diagnosis of the mesothelioma cancer you will have to take resort to the surgical methods for detection of the disease.