CT scans can help doctors determine the stage of a mesothelioma tumor by revealing whether or not it has spread to nearby tissues, the lymph nodes or to distant organs. A relatively new technique known as CT perfusion is especially effective at determining whether or not cancer cells have begun to spread throughout the bloodstream. This information helps oncologists predict the stage of the tumor, which in turn determines whether or not the patient will be a good candidate for surgery.
Although CT scans can identify mesothelioma metastases, they do have some limitations. Several studies suggest that CT scans are less effective than MRIs at detecting cancer that has spread to the diaphragmatic muscle or the chest wall. Primary tumors and cancerous lymph nodes often blend together into one highlighted area on the CT image, and chest wall invasion can be difficult to distinguish from mediastinal fat. This makes it challenging for doctors to use a CT scan to accurately determine the tumor (T) and nodal (N) aspects of the TNM mesothelioma staging system.
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