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Mesothelioma Stages – Providing Information on the different stages of mesothelioma and malignant mesothelioma staging. The stages of pleural mesothelioma is different to the stages of peritoneal mesothelioma. Mesothelioma Stages and Mesothelioma staging information

Mesothelioma Stages - 4 Stages and Mesothelioma staging information

Upon confirmation of a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, the next step is evaluating the stage of the disease. Physicians may conduct imaging studies, such as CT (computed topography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans to assess the progression and appropriate treatment.

   

The stages of pleural mesothelioma is different to the stages of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Pleural mesothelioma stages
There are two main staging systems in use for pleural mesothelioma.  These are called the TNM system and the Brigham system .  In the UK, the system that is mostly commonly used is the TNM system.  Specialists generally don't use the Brigham system any more, but we've left it in here for now in case your own doctor refers to it.

The TNM system
This is also sometimes called the International Mesothelioma Interest Group staging system. 

The TNM system is the staging system most commonly used in cancer staging generally.  The TNM system describes the extent of the primary tumour (T), the absence or presence of cancer in nearby lymph nodes (N), and the absence or presence of distant metastases (M). 

Once the TNM categories have been decided, this information is grouped together to give the stage.  Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 is the most advanced stage.

The four stages of mesothelioma are as follows:

Stage 1: The tumor is found in the pleura with or without some involvement of the lung, pericardium (lining of the heart) or diaphragm.

Stage 2: The tumor is found in a stage I location, plus there is involvement of some lymph nodes in the chest.

Stage 3: The tumor has extended into the chest wall, ribs or heart, through the diaphragm or into the peritoneum (the abdominal lining). There also may be involvement of the lymph nodes.

Stage 4: The tumor has spread through the bloodstream to distant sites (it has metastasized).

The Brigham staging system

This is based on whether the mesothelioma can be removed by surgery and whether the lymph nodes are involved or not. Again there are four stages, which are similar to the TNM system. 

Stage 1: mesothelioma can be removed with surgery and there are no lymph nodes containing cancer cells   

Stage 2: mesothelioma can be removed with surgery but there are lymph nodes containing cancer cells  

Stage 3: mesothelioma cannot be removed with surgery because it has spread into the chest wall, heart, or through the diaphragm into the peritoneum.  There may or may not be lymph nodes containing cancer cells     

Stage 4: mesothelioma has spread via the bloodstream to other organs in the body such as the liver, brain or bone

Peritoneal mesothelioma stages

There is no established staging system for peritoneal mesothelioma. If your cancer is staged it may be done according to the TNM system. The TNM system is the staging system most commonly used in cancer. The TNM system describes the extent of the primary tumour (T), the absence or presence of cancer in nearby lymph nodes (N), and the absence or presence of distant metastases (M).