Mesothelioma Pathology

This report is based on data compiled from either a histology test or a cytology test (or both). Histology and cytology are separate medical terms within pathology testing and reports. Which one your pathologist performs depends on whether you undergo a tissue biopsy or have fluid removed.

Cytology is the study of cell structure and cells’ functions. This term can be interchangeable with cytopathology, which is the examination of diseases at the cellular level.

In the case of studying mesothelioma, pathologists analyze fluid samples to learn more about the potential presence of malignant cells. Doctors use a needle to extract fluid buildup in either the pleura or the peritoneum. Pathologists then stain the fluid to see if malignant cells react to the stain.

Mesothelioma cytology involves a less-invasive diagnostic procedure than a tissue biopsy. Doctors won’t make a large incision or use a thick needle to remove fluid.

However, a definitive diagnosis using fluid samples is challenging. There are often not enough malignant cells in the sample to determine if a patient has mesothelioma. Pathologists also have difficulty analyzing the cells in the sample.

“It’s harder to examine the architecture of the individual cells suspended in the fluid,” said Dr. Elliot Wakeam, a thoracic oncologist at Michigan Medicine.

For these reasons, many mesothelioma doctors and pathologists prefer tissue samples and histology for mesothelioma pathology.

Histology is the study of tissue under a microscope. The term is interchangeable with histopathology, which is the study of diseases in tissue.

For mesothelioma, pathologists conduct histology testing by examining extracted tissue for malignancies. Doctors retrieve this tissue one of two ways: from a surgical biopsy, which involves a large incision; or from a needle biopsy, which requires a small incision.

Histology can be in unison with cytology testing to study both tissue and fluid samples. However, tissue samples provide more conclusive evidence of whether or not mesothelioma is present. The tissue usually provides more cells to study, and the cells are easier to examine without fluid present.

Pathologists stain these cells to uncover the presence of cancer. This staining also allows doctors to determine the mesothelioma cell type. This can affect the patient’s treatment options and mesothelioma prognosis.