Diagnosing Mesothelioma With a Breath Test
Diagnosing mesothelioma may one day be as simple as taking a breath test.
A team of researchers in the Netherlands have been testing the effectiveness of an electronic nose in detecting mesothelioma, a fast-growing cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is notoriously difficult to diagnose because it often mimics other lung-related diseases. In addition, some of the most effective methods for diagnosing mesothelioma carry a high risk of complications, especially in the elderly – the group most likely to get the disease because of its long latency.
Doctors in the Department of Respiratory Medicine at the University of Amsterdam Medical Center conducted an experiment to determine whether an electronic nose called the Cyranose 320 could tell the difference between healthy people, people with mesothelioma, and people who had long-term exposure to asbestos but did not have mesothelioma. The Cyranose 320 is a handheld direct reading electronic nose with a 32-sensor chip. It can be trained to recognize a wide range of odorant molecules and construct a ‘smellprint' of chemical compounds that are indicative of a particular disease. More than 3,000 volatile organic compounds can be present in exhaled breath.
For their study, the Dutch researchers recruited 13 patients with confirmed mesothelioma and 13 patients with certified, long-term professional asbestos exposure. Thirteen healthy people without asbestos exposure served as the control group. Exhaled breath was collected from each group and sampled by the electronic nose. The resulting "breathprints" were analyzed, the individual volatile organic compounds found in each subject's breath were mapped, and the results were cross-checked for accuracy.
The results were encouraging for those searching for an easier, more accurate method of diagnosing mesothelioma. The electronic nose easily distinguished the mesothelioma patients from those who had been exposed to asbestos with 92.3% sensitivity and 85.7% specificity. Mesothelioma patients were also distinguished from the healthy controls. Repeated measurements yielded the same results.
In drawing conclusions for the international journal Lung Cancer, the research team concludes, "Molecular pattern recognition of exhaled breath can correctly distinguish patients with mesothelioma from subjects with similar occupational asbestos exposure without mesothelioma, and from healthy controls. This suggests that breathprints obtained by electronic nose have diagnostic potential for mesothelioma."
Questions and Answers
Being diagnosed with a cancerous disease like mesothelioma could be overwhelming to you and your family - emotionally, physically, and financially.
Between the 1930s and the 1970s, hundreds to thousands of veterans who served in the U.S. Army were exposed to asbestos, a material that was used extensively for insulation and fireproofing of military buildings or ships.
When asbestos exposure has a deadly effect on you or a family member, it becomes necessary to file a mesothelioma lawsuit to claim compensation for your injury.
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that affects the lining of a number of internal organs such as the heart, stomach and lungs due to exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma, cancer of the mesothelium, is a rare cancer taking too many lives today.
Mesothelioma is a serious disease that is caused by exposure to asbestos and a very rare form of cancer.
Cancer translational research brings together scientists' and clinicians' suggestions to develop solutions to biomedical complications. This kind of applied research strives to offer strategies to questions surrounding the etiology, pathology, diagnosis, prevention and treating cancer.
With modernization and westernization, India has definitely raised bars when it comes to "technology". But the introduction to such hi-tech equipments has left the masses lethargic and dependent on them. The culture of fast food and leading a luxurious life is one of the prime causes that are giving rise to millions of cancer patients annually.
Orbs are actually a lumpectomy or quadrantectomy combined with rotating the breast tissue or mobilize the flap into the cavity of the surgery time fill is removed. It also includes the comparative change in shape and size is doing in relation to breast and moved if necessary, does not affect the conversion of the breast. The deferred plan the reconstruction is not part of endoplasmic techniques. Both procedures are performed by specific thoracic surgeons.
What every woman fears for is losing her self confidence , losing hope and losing her personality. The term "Breast Cancer" is a very negative word and that it creates negative vibrations in her heart. So, to make her comfortable with the basics of breast cancer and to make her means any woman understand that this type of cancer is the least dangerous than all cancers and that if it is detected early then you will fight with it successfully. Causes, Symptoms, treatment, discussed in detail.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that originates in the mesothelium. The mesothelium is the protective lining that covers the body's internal organs. Mesothelioma occurs when the mesothelium cells start to divide uncontrollably.
Asbestos fibers are microscopic, though they are also quite durable. For this reason, asbestos was used in a number of different industrial compounds to enhance strength and resistance to temperature extremes- two properties at which the mineral is highly adept.
It has long been known that smoking is hazardous to one's health, causing a marked increase in instances of mesothelioma lung cancer among those who smoke regularly.
Exposure to asbestos particles is one of the principal causes of mesothelioma cancer, also known as asbestos cancer. As a naturally occurring mineral with useful commercial applications, asbestos is found in plumbing, insulation and other building materials and products.
There are several risk factors that increase the likelihood that a person will develop mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Information – Basics Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is usually caused by previous exposure to asbestos.
