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Medical Author:

Winston W Tan, MD

Coauthor:

Shehnaz Shaikh, MD

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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When the diagnosis of mesothelioma is confirmed, the tumor stage is determined in order to plan the optimal treatment. Mesothelioma is broadly staged into two categories: localized (the tumor is restricted to the membrane surface where it originated) and advanced (spread to neighboring structures and distant organs and tissues).

Localized mesothelioma is also called stage I mesothelioma.

Advanced mesothelioma can be further classified into the following stages:

• Stage II: The tumor has spread beyond the lining of the chest wall to lymph nodes in the chest.
• Stage III: The tumor has spread into the chest wall, mediastinum (area of the chest between the lungs), heart, diaphragm (thin muscle below the lungs and heart that separates the chest from the abdomen and helps in breathing), or abdominal lining.
• Stage IV: The tumor has spread to distant organs or tissues.