For more than 30 years ago, there are a few different
systems that have been designed
specifically to assist the physician in determining
the stage of the disease in patients with
cancer of asbestos. Butchart system is one system that was first
developed and used most often by doctors who specialize in the treatment
of this cancer in the United
States.
Butchart system was developed by Dr. Eric Butchart in 1976. Although this system has been more
than 30 years, this system persists to the present day and most expert opinion and thoracic powder oncologists in the United States, it is the most accurate
and most reliable for measuring how far the mesothelioma has been growing inside the patient's body. This particular staging system only defines where the tumors are located but does not take into
consideration other factors, such as the load factor of the tumor.
As defined in the Butchart staging system, here are
the four stages of mesothelioma:
Stage 1: pleural Mesothelioma is present in the left or right, and
may also involve the lung, pericardium, or diaphragm on the same
side.
Stage 2: Mesothelioma invades the chest wall or cavity or involves the esophagus,
heart, or pleura on both sides of. It may also involve the lymph nodes in the chest.
Stage 3: Mesothelioma has penetrated through the diaphragm into the membranes of the
abdominal cavity (peritoneum). It may also involve the lymph nodes outside of the chest.
Stage 4: there is
evidence of distant metastasis (has spread through the bloodstream
to other organs).
At this present moment, only a few can still be done to control the spread of this disease is more advanced and the patient will usually be provided with palliative care
to keep patients can be as comfortable as possible.
As has been mentioned above, the original Butchart staging system is still the most commonly
used up to now to provide data about the spread of pleural mesothelioma although TNM Staging System that has just developed more precise and more detailed. Understand about this staging system for mesothelioma is very
important for estimating and
understanding a better prognosis, as well as it could be to assess the best therapy options.