The term staging is used to define the extent to which the cancer has proliferated. The stage of mesothelioma is determined through the use of imaging tests such as MRI scans and this determination strongly affects a patient’s prognosis.
Today, staging only exists for the most common form of mesothelioma - pleural. Staging is usually tracked using the Butchart system, which is based primarily on the size of the tumor, and by numbering the stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Butchart Staging System
xrayStage 1: The cancer is located in one side of the pleural membrane and occasionally the pericardium, diaphragm, or lung on that side.
Stage 2: The cancer spreads to the chest and/or the esophagus, both sides of the pleura, or the heart. The mesothelioma may also be present in the lymph nodes.
Stage 3: The cancer spreads to the peritoneum via the diaphragm. The cancer may also be found in the lymph nodes located outside of the chest cavity.
Stage 4: The cancer has spread extensively.
TNM Staging System
The recently developed TNM staging system is based on the tumor (T), the lymph nodes (N), and the amount of metastasis (M). Like the Butchart system, the numbers 1 through 4 are also used to identify the appropriate stage.
Stage 1: The cancer is located in one side of the pleural membrane and occasionally the pericardium, diaphragm, or lung on that side.
Stage 2: The cancer spreads to the lymph nodes located near the lung. Cancer may also be located in the pericardium, diaphragm, and lung.
Stage 3: The cancer spreads to the heart, esophagus, muscle of the chest wall, ribs, as well as other organs located on the same side as the tumor. The lymph may or may not be affected. Stage 3 also includes those mesotheliomas which have spread to lymph nodes but the local spread is similar to that of the second stage.
Stage 4: The cancer spreads to the lymph nodes located across from the main tumor or into the pleural membrane, peritoneum, or other organ in the abdomen or the neck. Stage 4 also includes cancers which have extensively metastasized.
The Butchart system is still the most widely-accepted staging system when determining the stages of pleural mesothelioma. The concept of a stage is necessary for determining a patient’s most likely prognosis, as well as deciding what the appropriate treatment option would be.
Prognostic Factors
researchThere is a greater knowledge base regarding the risks surrounding pleural mesothelioma as opposed to the other types. This is due to the fact that it has been better studied as it is the predominant form of the illness. It has been found that the younger the patient and the greater their general health and weight, the more likely they are to have a positive prognosis.
Of the three different forms of mesothelioma, epithelial mesothelioma results in the more positive prognosis. Biphasic mesothelioma is second in terms of seriousness, and fibrosarcomatous mesothelioma has the least favorable results.
Reference:
Doherty, Gerard M. (2010). Current Diagnosis and Treatment Surgery. 13th ed.
Today, staging only exists for the most common form of mesothelioma - pleural. Staging is usually tracked using the Butchart system, which is based primarily on the size of the tumor, and by numbering the stages 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Butchart Staging System
xrayStage 1: The cancer is located in one side of the pleural membrane and occasionally the pericardium, diaphragm, or lung on that side.
Stage 2: The cancer spreads to the chest and/or the esophagus, both sides of the pleura, or the heart. The mesothelioma may also be present in the lymph nodes.
Stage 3: The cancer spreads to the peritoneum via the diaphragm. The cancer may also be found in the lymph nodes located outside of the chest cavity.
Stage 4: The cancer has spread extensively.
TNM Staging System
The recently developed TNM staging system is based on the tumor (T), the lymph nodes (N), and the amount of metastasis (M). Like the Butchart system, the numbers 1 through 4 are also used to identify the appropriate stage.
Stage 1: The cancer is located in one side of the pleural membrane and occasionally the pericardium, diaphragm, or lung on that side.
Stage 2: The cancer spreads to the lymph nodes located near the lung. Cancer may also be located in the pericardium, diaphragm, and lung.
Stage 3: The cancer spreads to the heart, esophagus, muscle of the chest wall, ribs, as well as other organs located on the same side as the tumor. The lymph may or may not be affected. Stage 3 also includes those mesotheliomas which have spread to lymph nodes but the local spread is similar to that of the second stage.
Stage 4: The cancer spreads to the lymph nodes located across from the main tumor or into the pleural membrane, peritoneum, or other organ in the abdomen or the neck. Stage 4 also includes cancers which have extensively metastasized.
The Butchart system is still the most widely-accepted staging system when determining the stages of pleural mesothelioma. The concept of a stage is necessary for determining a patient’s most likely prognosis, as well as deciding what the appropriate treatment option would be.
Prognostic Factors
researchThere is a greater knowledge base regarding the risks surrounding pleural mesothelioma as opposed to the other types. This is due to the fact that it has been better studied as it is the predominant form of the illness. It has been found that the younger the patient and the greater their general health and weight, the more likely they are to have a positive prognosis.
Of the three different forms of mesothelioma, epithelial mesothelioma results in the more positive prognosis. Biphasic mesothelioma is second in terms of seriousness, and fibrosarcomatous mesothelioma has the least favorable results.
Reference:
Doherty, Gerard M. (2010). Current Diagnosis and Treatment Surgery. 13th ed.
