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When lung cancer is diagnosed, the doctors want to learn
the stage of the disease. Staging is a process used by
physicians to describe the extent of the disease or how advanced the
cancer is. Staging assists the physician in determining the likely
course of the cancer and how it may respond to different treatments
(also known as the prognosis of the disease).
Knowing the stage of the disease helps the doctor plan
an appropriate treatment approach and evaluate the results of different
interventions. Different staging systems are used for different types of
cancer.
CT scans and MRI are
often used to determine whether the cancer has spread.
A mediastinoscopy can help show whether the cancer has
spread to the lymph nodes in the chest. Using a lighted viewing
instrument, called a scope, the doctor examines the center of the chest
(mediastinum) and nearby lymph nodes. In mediastinoscopy, the scope is
inserted through a small incision in the neck; in mediastinotomy, the
incision is made in the chest. In either procedure, the scope is also
used to remove a tissue sample.
(courtesy of clevelandclinic.org)
Additional Information
VW
Rusch "A Proposed New International TNM
Staging System for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma"
Chest 1995;108(4): 1122-8 (Posted 5/21/04)
- Treatment of
MPM hindered by lack of accurate staging system. Patients need to be
stratified into groups with similar prognosis.
- New IMIG staging system focuses on
size/extent/location of tumor and status of lymph node involvement
- Without accurate staging, it is
impossible to compare data or evaluate influence of specific treatment
on survival.
- There is pressing need for prospective
multi institutional clinical trials to investigate novel treatment
strategies
Defense Lawyer's "No Benefit" Theory Promotes Doom and Despair, Dr. Corey Langer. (12/23/98)
Does Early Stage
Diagnosis of MM Improve Prognosis? Asbestos Companies say "No", but
Fail to Finance Research
to Find a Cure; Updates on the Treatment Options Landscape; Creation
of Research Foundation RGW (11/30/98)
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