The only medical method available at this time to determine if a patient has been exposed to asbestos is to identify the presence of asbestos fibers in the body. Chest x-rays and CT scans (computed topography) can be used to detect changes in the lungs and surrounding tissue. They are effective in detecting minor changes in the lung structure that can be indicative of disease and are very helpful in the diagnosis of mesothelioma. However these tests cannot detect or reveal actual asbestos fibers within the lung. Tests are available to identify the presence of asbestos fibers in the lung. A lung biopsy can detect asbestos fibers in pieces of lung tissue. Less invasive tests (e.g. bronchoscopy) can detect asbestos fibers or asbestos bodies in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or in sputum. These tests, however, do not reliably indicate how much asbestos exposure a person may have received or predict whether disease will develop.
