Although Ohio residents who suffer from mesothelioma may soon benefit from new diagnostic techniques, experts say that improper diagnoses are still a significant problem. According to one estimate, around one in ten individuals fail to receive the proper treatment because their case is misdiagnosed. Potentially confounding correct diagnosis, pleural mesothelioma, which begins in thoracic cavity, often travels to the lungs, and it is symptomatically similar to lung cancer. Because it is difficult to catch mesothelioma early on, the disease often results in a terminal outcome for patients.
In July 2016, scientists from the University of Hawaii and other facilities published a study revealing that testing for the presence or absence of a particular chemical compound may make it easier for oncology specialists to distinguish whether a patient suffers from lung cancer or mesothelioma. The study showed that those without a protein identified as BAP1 have a higher chance of contracting malignant mesothelioma.
The study’s lead authors acknowledged that mesothelioma may be misdiagnosed for numerous reasons, such as inexperienced medical staff performing biopsies incorrectly. In some instances, insurers institute restrictions that limit the efficacy of diagnoses. The researchers also claimed that including BAP1 profiling in standard immunohistochemistry staining techniques will heighten accuracy. According to some experts, potential patients should seek diagnoses at facilities that specifically focus on mesothelioma.
When patients suffer from diseases like mesothelioma, correct, early diagnoses are vital to their survival and continued health. Some individuals, however, may receive treatment that actually interferes with their proper recovery or simply overlooks the diseases they suffer from. This kind of medical negligence can lead to mounting treatment costs and a worsened condition. PAtients who have been the victim of this type of an incident may want to discuss their situations with a medical malpractice attorney.